H.R.3619 stcw student loans

Professional Mariner Forum
21

[QUOTE=c.captain;42606]Fine…thrown the personal shit at me, but it is the little man fights from a gutter. I didn’t fling anything pesonnal at you except to say that by your own claim you went from 1600grt to 6000grt to unlimited master which would have been gaming the system and you know as well as I do that does happen in our industry. If you went through all the steps in the CFR then I am wrong and apologize for being wrong. See, I’m big enough man to admit that although I DO NOT believe that special letters from the USCG is a fair way to go but so be it, you got one…hooray for you!

Everything else though about the unlimited OSV license I standby however…there are a great many questions I asked you which you failed to answer, instead chosing to get personal and make a pretty strong attempt to discredit me. I voice my opinions concerning foreign mariners in the GoM on here because I believe in what I fight for is right “by law” and that it benefits each and every American mariner. You however are an apologist for the Norwegians and have shown that time and again. I don’t know, could that be because ECO owns half a Norwegian offshore company?

Btw, I am doing just fine thank you…got a promotion the other day in fact. Of course, not the company many people want to work for but you know, I think they’ll be coming around within the next six months since they have a whole shitload of vessels to man with unlimited licensed mariners, including Americans! My distaste of OMSA which is controlled by the Five Families in South Louisiana is clear and I will never back down from that one…I believe them to be a mafia but that is my opinion which I am not afraid to voice. If the majority of others here feel diffently, let them come forward and say so. I have no intention to ever ask one of the “Family” companies for a job again. Remember, I have an unlimited unrestricted license and can go back to merchant ships when and if I chose to and they are hiring.

So, if you want to continue to malign my character and belittle the causes I believe in go right ahead but remember who ends up looking like “two-bit little chicken”

your turn…please answer the questions I have posed earlier[/QUOTE]

I thought you said Slug it out?.. right after saying I was gaming the system - impugning my integrity. What the hell you want, a dozen roses, and nothing personal? It generally doesn’t work that way. By the way, I went from OS to Unlimited Master…I’m sure you can deduct how that is possible being an unlimited master yourself. I figured as much when 6,000 ton was mentioned, since that’s what was being talked about at the time. The hawespipe does not change because you have an endorsement. That might be a headline for you, apparently.
You can hold any opinion that you want, we all can. I could care less about yours when it’s tearing companies and people down, but don’t hit me with 20 freaking questions for your own satisfaction - that happen to be an edit from what I just answered (In my own way). You can see what was quoted - your quote, but it changed.

I don’t have to explain myself, but I will for the education of others when it comes to what I did, or know for fact, and not what I’ve heard about.

I really am glad you’re happy with your position. That is good, but I will say that I’ve never witnessed someone slam their current employer as much as you have without the common curtesy to quit first. Just never witnessed that, is all.

The questions that I have posted are for entertainment purposes only and rhetorical in nature*

22

[QUOTE=anchorman;42605]You are being disenfranchised by your reputation, if anything.

I don’t have to prove myself, and you don’t want any of this. I went through 1600, 3rd, 2nd, 1st, and Master just like everyone else that went that route - As per CFR. There is no other way. When I got the 6,000 ton on my 1,600 ton, it was before STCW, and there was no program at the time, now there is. I had a letter from USCG Headquarters at the time, and because of good reason, several Masters were hired at the time. You do not know the context. If anyone has sacrificed working offshore and being away from their family, they earned what they have. It’s disingenuous to think otherwise oh mighty one that earned it all. Plus, I could care less what a two-bit chicken little wannabe thinks.

I know you’re bitter. I would be too. If I had an unlimited Master license, been through as many employers in as many years that I have been in the oil field, with a record I can’t shake, I think I would need to fight for American jobs too. At the very least, at the same rate I’m managing to lose them. All the while trashing the ones that were smart enough not to hire me, blame it all of the foreigners that were kind enough to issue me a certificate of equivalency for some of those jobs, and manage to be inaccurate with a majority of my assumption …it kinda weighs on you after a while…makes you …um…bitter.

Is that more to your satisfaction? Because I certainly don’t understand what’s on TV over here…I have time, pencil and paper.[/QUOTE]

I just want you to know that you owe Seadrill about 200 bucks for a new HPL1906 computer monitor, because I just spit coffee all over the screen.

All I can say is DAMN!!! I feel kind of bad for my baiting statement I made to get this thread going. Jeez!!!

23

[QUOTE=anchorman;42610]
but I will say that I’ve never witnessed someone slam their current employer as much as you have without the common curtesy to quit first. Just never witnessed that, is all.[/QUOTE]

Please note for the record that statement was changed before you quoted me. Since the change in owners many hands have left so there is truth to the statement about that particular company.

But anyway, what’s such a trifle between old friends!

24

C-Captain,

It really is not as bad as it once was with the selection process of who gets a large OSV endorsement and who doesn’t. Pretty much any employee can get a book now. It was not always that way, but ECO is so large now they can not be as selective as they once were. The other thing is that in the beginning the only boats that were over 3000 were the anchor handlers and I think that was the real reason they were selective. Putting the wrong person on one of those boats can cause a lot of damage real quick. It is just the nature of the job. I am on the fence with the whole unlimited OSV. I just don’t think there are a lot of Unlimited Masters that want to pump mud every day to a drilling rig and I know there are plenty of very professional limited license mariners that enjoy it. With the extra stability training that will be part of the requirement, I do not see any reason why they should not be allowed to operate them. Especially considering the specialized field. By allowing this new OSV licensing I do not think it will put any AGT Masters out of a job. Personally, I would never want to go back to OSV’s. Not based on the job, but based on the pay, schedule, benefits and training are below an acceptable standard in my mind. I think we are worth more, but I do not think the OSV companies will ever be at the level acceptable in my mind. One statement someone said that I always thought was fitting for OSV companies and how they treat their employees…Never hungry, but never full.

I made a good living with ECO and do not have anything bad to say about them or their management. They gave me the opportunity to work as much as I wanted, accruing sea time. I was given quite a bit of training at their training center. I never thought that the DP training that I received there would be as important as it has been. I went from 100 ton Master on an old Utility boat to work on the biggest, baddest vessel they had. They helped me get to where I am now, laying the foundation to hopefully a successful career. The rest was on me. The same tools that were available to anchorman and myself are still in place. Anyone there that wants to do the same thing that he and I did can do it. A lot of people just do not want to spend that much time away from home training, much less working 280 days or more a year on top of the required training.

25

[QUOTE=Capt. Lee;42615]C-Captain,

I would never want to go back to OSV’s. Not based on the job, but based on the pay, schedule, benefits and training are below an acceptable standard in my mind. I think we are worth more, but I do not think the OSV companies will ever be at the level acceptable in my mind. One statement someone said that I always thought was fitting for OSV companies and how they treat their employees…Never hungry, but never full. [/QUOTE]

If the OMSA companies had been made to hire unlimited tonage mariners to man the large OSV’s then the wages would have had to go up, rotations would become standard 28/28 and I believe all other benefits would have become much better such as paid travel, travel days, better 401K plans and dare I say it, bonuses. These companies CAN afford it but don’t want to pay and since they keep getting their special deals in Washington DC, they do not have to and don’t. Can someone here tell me how getting the tonnage continually raised for OSV licenses really helps the interest of the majority Gulf of Mexico mariners (unless of course, you are one who has one). The 6000grt Large OSV in actuallly has most likely hurt more mariners than it helps except that Gulf of Mexico mariners can’t see beyond the south boundary of Walker Ridge or the parking lot in Des Allemands where they leave their truck to go work 28/14. How can you blame the companies when the mariners accept the underwhelming deal they get! They know not of what they don’t have because they have never had anything better. They are led to believe that they all are the “foundation” of their respective employers and what makes the company so “successful” but only get a piece of luggage as a quarterly “safety” consolation gift (I still use my rolling duffle and I’ll never forget the company that gifted to me such a thoughtful and useful item)! What standup guys they were!

and Capt. Lee…I’ll give you the observation of yours about mariners who are anchor handlers and those who aren’t but unlimited tonnage mariners can learn to become anchor handlers like any other mariner, but ECO still doesn’t want any of them in command of one of those vessels (I asked earlier if any AGT masters were commanding any of the Large OSV anchorboats?).

Lastly, I do not hold that AGT mariners do not want to work the GoM on the OSV side. I think they do but when they get a position at one of the OMSA companies they are put into stagnant positions where they finally give up because they know the situation will never change. I am one of those and know plenty of others. In fact I have both mates and engineers I am working with at the moment who left OSV’s for drilling because service vessels owners didn’t do anything to make them want to stay. Even though all at different companies, all of our experiences were the same. Their attitude was “you may have the license and certificates, but we don’t need them so don’t expect anything extra from us because of it in the meantime you’ll take what we give you and like it or if you don’t like it, don’t let the door hit you in the ass on the way out”

26

[QUOTE=c.captain;42604]How about the AKIRA? She had been an unlimited vessel when she as a Subchapter I cargo ship, but as soon as she bacame a Large OSV, did they keep an unlimted master then?..didn’t think so[/QUOTE]

FYI, the Akira Chouest is the former Margeret B. Chouest 1539 GRT 3820 ITC, there was as mix of limited and unlimited licenses onboard the Margaret in all positions, including Captain. I do know of 2 of the unlimited masters that did remain employed with ECO after the Margaret went away. WRT to the those tonnages, there was obviously some brother-in-law deals going on with the USCG, but that was pre 1995 standards and is a different subject…
Ok, I’ll go back to my spectator seat now…

27

[U][I][B]Any unlimited masters commanding the very large anchor boats? How about the AKIRA? She had been an unlimited vessel when she as a Subchapter I cargo ship, but as soon as she bacame a Large OSV, did they keep an unlimited master then?..didn’t think so[/B][/I][/U]

The AKIRA currently has an unlimited master onboard and has been there for several years

28

[QUOTE=Mr 100-ton;42692][U][I][B]Any unlimited masters commanding the very large anchor boats? How about the AKIRA? She had been an unlimited vessel when she as a Subchapter I cargo ship, but as soon as she bacame a Large OSV, did they keep an unlimited master then?..didn’t think so[/B][/I][/U]

The AKIRA currently has an unlimited master onboard and has been there for several years[/QUOTE]

Mr 100-ton, now why did you have to go out and put down accurate information. He answered his own question. The best part was he was talking to an “unlimited master commanding a very large anchor boat”, but I was going to leave well enough alone.

29

[I][B][U]Mr 100-ton, now why did you have to go out and put down accurate information.[/U][/B][/I]

I the future I will try my best not to put down accurate info,:smiley:

in a couple of months it will be Mr 3rd mate
Now look what i have done, i just posted some info about student loans and this thread did take off

needed a good laugh today, this thread was it

30

I think gCaptain should host a cage match at least once a year. Just a friendly little get together where we can all wear our tights, have a few drinks and bust some chairs over each others heads. Let’s get ready to rumble!