[QUOTE=cappy208;77111]
In my small world the AWO is the companies mouthpiece to DC. There is NO united voice for the mariner. Only fractured Unions and a few sailors who write politicians occasionally.[/QUOTE]
REPLY All the unions do is conspire with the academies and AWO (boat companies) to keep the licensing regulations they way they are to make it as hard as possible for small vessel mariners to move up to unlimited tonnage licenses — which would enable mariners to leave small vessel operating companies and compete for jobs against the union boys and the academy graduates. Don’t blame the USCG for these stupid regulations, blame the AWO, the unions, and the academies that continue lobby for this mess.