The requierments for getting a license is getting harder and harder so they can say that there is no qualified personnel so they can hire foreigners and pay them pennies. I worked for a company that got a contract down in Mexico and we had to have two Mexican nationals on the boat as far as the contract. They got paid 15 dollars a day and when it got time to get paid the man would come down to the boat to pay the men in cash and sometimes he said that he got robbed before he got down to the boat.I have been told before 9/11 companies were pushing the govt. to hire Filipinos for the same jobs US Mariners do and pay them pennies a day. after 9/11 the govt. said no due to National Security you only hire US personnel. I can’t remember for sure the name of the inspection company but I talked to a Filipino and he told me that he was working for a inspection company and they paid for the rental car and the apartment. For 6 months while in the US. I had to ask how much he got paid by the hour. He told me 10 an hour for a job that usually pays 16-20 dollars an hour.I love working on boats especially the ocean but its not for everyone .