I gotta ask OICUR12, why would you want to waste your time with the “coonass navy”? Kinda seems as if you have something against the people down the bayou. One would assume that everybody from out of state would understand that local companies want to provide jobs for locals first. Nothing against the out of state guys, a lot of you come to Louisiana and make great captains, deckhands, etc…but as a Louisiana native working in the marine transportation industry, I do get tired of hearing out of state guys do nothing but talk trash about Louisiana and coonasses. I would think that it would be the opposite. If you are from out of state, unless they give you reason to dislike them, try to appreciate the fact that you have a high paying job that is provided for you by the “coonass navy”. And most companies will put you on a boat with non-smokers if you request that. Everybody on my boat smokes, but we smoke outside because we don’t like the smell inside or the disgusting residue it leaves on the walls. I have worked for both GOL and GL, they were both decent companies to work for. Medical benefits, 401k, paid hollidays, got paid on time, never had to fight to get a paycheck, sent supplies on time. A couple small issues from time to time, but not even worth mentioning. Even the best of companies can’t be 100% perfect all of the time. Just realize that the “coonass navy” a lot of you out of state guys complain about, are the ones who put food on your family’s table. Keep in mind that a guy with just a GED can’t make anywhere near the money that we make offshore in most other places. I like working with people from different parts of the country, but when they start talking about how ignorant coonasses are, or just general trash talking about Louisiana it really upsets me. As far as the GOL and GL pay rates, I believe that GOL pays slightly more. $10-25 a day more from what I’ve heard.