We were not in the government-protected Jones Act trade. We were running the same runs as the foreign flag ships, often with a smaller crew (according to the AIS).
The car ship trade is in some ways like driving a bus. Instead of a route we have a trade we run, instead of bus stops it’s terminals. There’s often a ship ahead of us and one behind us. When the ship ahead leaves the terminal we pull in. There’s often another ship behind scheduled for just after we leave.
From here: Bad Seamanship: Is That So?
Car carriers follow an extremely tight schedule, with very short turnaround times. Port rotation and scheduling is planned weeks in advance and the pressure to maintain the voyage itinerary is enormous
I’ve worked on tugs, it’s sometimes hard work with long hours. I’ve also worked car ships, it’s no walk in the park.