[QUOTE=ombugge;173520]
The max. tax rate for individuals in the much despised high tax countries in Europe is actually less than in the US.
The other thing to consider is what you get back for your tax $ in the form of Health Care, Pension, Child allowance, Unemployment benefits etc.[/QUOTE]
You are right about that, but you don’t have to rub it in. There is nothing we can do about it.
[QUOTE=LI_Domer;173519]Hey I’m with you man, these US Companies should be paying their fair share. Sort of related but it’d also be nice if Disney’s cruise vessels flew US flags since it’s an American company making money mostly off of Americans.[/QUOTE]
Maybe one of the reasons they don’t do so is to avoid having US seafarers protected by the Jones Act on board. As pointed out by c.captain somewhere else, that make them liable to be sued for millions, with the burden of proof being on them, not the seafarer.
The other reason why ALL cruise operators, US owned or not, use foreign flag is that they have found a way to limit their exposure to the professional “cheats” that plagued the industry in the earl day of modern cruising out of Miami.
They would be looking for anything and everything that could give them a change to slip, trip or fall.
Out for a “walk” at first light to see if they could find a newly wash and wet deck to slip on etc.(Or spilling hot coffee??)
With co-operating US Lawyers and accommodating Doctors to certify the debilitating damages they suffered, they would sue in a US Court for millions, or threatening to do so. Being mostly foreign owned and flagged vessel,(many Norwegian) they could not expect much sympathy from the Judges. Out of court settlement was still lucrative for the claimant and his Lawyer on a 60/40% deal. (In the Lawyer’s favour)
They have found some way of avoiding most of this by writing in some waiver in the “contract” (Ticket terms), but apparently this is not applicable to US flagged vessels, leaving and arriving in US ports.
I remember hearing about this from a friend that was Captain on the SS Norway, but not sure of the accuracy. (Or my memory)
There may be somebody here that can elaborate on, or correct, this??
PS> Here is an example of rewards being given by US courts: http://gcaptain.com/cruise-ship-passenger-awarded-21-5-million-for-this/
Holland-America is a Carnival owned cruise company.
[QUOTE=lm1883;173521]Turks and Caicos will give you a passport for $250k or you could move to Canada and become a landed immigrant, bango, you’re a dual citizen.[/QUOTE]
Ask Boris Johnson about the advantages of “dual citizenship”.
[QUOTE=ombugge;173526]Ask Boris Johnson about the advantages of “dual citizenship”.[/QUOTE]
There are several countries that offer “instant” citizenship and a passport for a price. Best known is Dominica for $75,000.
Many countries offer the investor visas that lead to eventual citizenship, best known is the US.
It is not easy for an American to get landed immigrant status in Canada.
[QUOTE=lm1883;173534]You wouldn’t have a problem at all as you have a trade skill.[/QUOTE]
Not true at all. It’s a chicken and egg scenario. Like in the US, one cannot get Canadian seaman’s documents to sail without permanent resident status. A temporary work permit is not good enough. One cannot work on Canadian vessels without Canadian seamen’s documents. Canada will not grant permanent residency on the basis that one will be working on foreign (US) vessels until Canadian sea men’s documents are obtained.
Canada has a smart immigration point system for selection of immigrants. The Provinces have add on immigration programs by which they can “nominate” immigrants for selection. They system favors young, healthy, educated, persons who are fluent in English or French with specific skills. There are specific Province by Province lists of skilled trades being sought. Seamen are not on the list in any Province.
Many seamen, particularly engineers, might find non-seagoing jobs in skilled trades in Canada. For example as truck drivers or construction workers.
This is very oversimplified, but For most Americans, one must have a job commitment from an employer in order to get a temporary permit to work for that specific employer. The employer must get a “labor market opinion” from the government that no Canadian is available to take the job. A temporary work permit can lead to permanent residency and the ability to change jobs or professions. Similar to the US, the easiest and most certain way in is to marry a Canadian.
[QUOTE=ombugge;173455]
PS> Faststream is a good recruitment agency, with offices both in the US, Singapore, Australia and UK (Hq)
Drop them a line with your CV. You never know, you may find a job that suite you somewhere in the world.[/QUOTE]
Really? They are across the hall from our office here in Houston.
[QUOTE=tugsailor;173538]Not true at all. It’s a chicken and egg scenario. Like in the US, one cannot get Canadian seaman’s documents to sail without permanent resident status. A temporary work permit is not good enough. One cannot work on Canadian vessels without Canadian seamen’s documents. Canada will not grant permanent residency on the basis that one will be working on foreign (US) vessels until Canadian sea men’s documents are obtained.
Canada has a smart immigration point system for selection of immigrants. The Provinces have add on immigration programs by which they can “nominate” immigrants for selection. They system favors young, healthy, educated, persons who are fluent in English or French with specific skills. There are specific Province by Province lists of skilled trades being sought. Seamen are not on the list in any Province.
Many seamen, particularly engineers, might find non-seagoing jobs in skilled trades in Canada. For example as truck drivers or construction workers.
This is very oversimplified, but For most Americans, one must have a job commitment from an employer in order to get a temporary permit to work for that specific employer. The employer must get a “labor market opinion” from the government that no Canadian is available to take the job. A temporary work permit can lead to permanent residency and the ability to change jobs or professions. Similar to the US, the easiest and most certain way in is to marry a Canadian.[/QUOTE]
Maybe you could work on foreign flag OSVs off NFL with Canadian work permit? Still within the limitation of your STCW license.
There are several foreign vessels operating there, I believe.
[QUOTE=tugsailor;173487]I did know an American mariner that was working in Singapore. He lost his job in the offshore downturn and is now working back in the US. He was getting $1000 a day 90 on / 90 off. The employer treated him as a contractor and required and him to set up an LLC. The LLC opened a local bank account. The employer paid his “contractor fee” to the local LLC with no taxes taken out. He had his LLC paid him a salary, upon which he paid US taxes. He had to pay US taxes because he did not stay out of the US for 330 days per year. He keep some of the untaxed money in his local LLC which he ended up investing in foreign real estate. This is just one of the many ways that a US citizen can open a foreign bank account and collect a fee for his services overseas without having to pay US taxes on all of the money.
It certainly is true that the IRS has made personal foreign banking almost impossible for US citizens in most countries.[/QUOTE]
One of my high school classmates lives and works in Australia and has for years (non maritime related). He is seriously thinking about dropping his US citizenship because of the US income tax requirements.
[QUOTE=LI_Domer;173519]Hey I’m with you man, these US Companies should be paying their fair share. Sort of related but it’d also be nice if Disney’s cruise vessels flew US flags since it’s an American company making money mostly off of Americans.[/QUOTE]
As is Carnival. . . .
[QUOTE=ombugge;173541]Maybe you could work on foreign flag OSVs off NFL with Canadian work permit? Still within the limitation of your STCW license.
There are several foreign vessels operating there, I believe.[/QUOTE]
I have tried that. When foreign OSVs come to work in Canada, after a fairly short time they are required to crew up with Canadian seamen — which is how it should be. Canada does have waivers for foreign crews, but it is only short term.
Foreign crew, including Americans, are employed on the rigs in Canada.
[QUOTE=tugsailor;173546]I have tried that. When foreign OSVs come to work in Canada, after a fairly short time they are required to crew up with Canadian seamen — which is how it should be. Canada does have waivers for foreign crews, but it is only short term.
Foreign crew, including Americans, are employed on the rigs in Canada.[/QUOTE]
So how does that work if the vessel is US flagged, or any other register that require at least the Master to be a National?
Are such vessels “banned” from working in Canadian waters?
PS> Looking at this article in OE it looks like a lot of work is coming up in the area: http://www.oedigital.com/component/k2/item/10855-newfoundland-region-gets-us-907-million-in-bids?utm_campaign=Fuel+For+Thought&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=23763547&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_V5giAuMBEfDnjXMCJn_fetyZoEWX-bCCugmn1SmbLE-NMf0oHbNp_7DAou3k8pmem4q0XzV8cgNogDpN7GoaiklIOEg&_hsmi=23763547
Yes such a vessel would be unable to work there. It’s like the jones act trade, foreign vessels can’t trade in that market.
Here, this might help.
http://www.expat-tax-help.com/expat-taxes/complex-expat-tax-returns/
Check out [I]“Controlled Foreign Corporations”[/I] and one can see it gets real cloudy, real quick. The example mentioned earlier in the thread probably would not pass the smell test.
I’ve lived and worked overseas for over 25 years under a variety of circumstances, including owning companies. Rarely will one avoid the US tax man if a US citizen, but the benefits of genuine residency in a low tax nation, or even the benefit of tax treaty treatment of foreign taxes paid in high tax countries tend to cancel out the effects of most US taxation, unless you’re really rolling in some serious cake. And if that is the case, the tax treatment is not being discussed here.
German seafarers will pay tax on their overseas income in most all circumstances, but maybe… I’ll check with the crewing team, but last I checked, yeah, the guys pay.
[QUOTE=+A465B;173579]Here, this might help.
http://www.expat-tax-help.com/expat-taxes/complex-expat-tax-returns/
Check out [I]“Controlled Foreign Corporations”[/I] and one can see it gets real cloudy, real quick. The example mentioned earlier in the thread probably would not pass the smell test.
I’ve lived and worked overseas for over 25 years under a variety of circumstances, including owning companies. Rarely will one avoid the US tax man if a US citizen, but the benefits of genuine residency in a low tax nation, or even the benefit of tax treaty treatment of foreign taxes paid in high tax countries tend to cancel out the effects of most US taxation, unless you’re really rolling in some serious cake. And if that is the case, the tax treatment is not being discussed here.
German seafarers will pay tax on their overseas income in most all circumstances, but maybe… I’ll check with the crewing team, but last I checked, yeah, the guys pay.[/QUOTE]
As long as they are RESIDENCE of Germany, yes.
Many years ago the Danish Taxman got suspicious because a lot of seamen had moved out to the same address in Seuta, a Spanish enclave on the North coast of Morocco.
They sent an inspector down there to find out. He found a Danish owned Ship chandler on that address. When he asked about some specific names he was guided to a wine barrel with the top off, full of letters from Danish authorities, incl. the Tax office and whoever collected Child allowance etc.
Needless to say Danish tax law was changed to close this loop hole. I don’t know where they moved to next.
[QUOTE=ombugge;173560]So how does that work if the vessel is US flagged, or any other register that require at least the Master to be a National?
Are such vessels “banned” from working in Canadian waters?
PS> Looking at this article in OE it looks like a lot of work is coming up in the area: http://www.oedigital.com/component/k2/item/10855-newfoundland-region-gets-us-907-million-in-bids?utm_campaign=Fuel+For+Thought&utm_source=hs_email&utm_medium=email&utm_content=23763547&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_V5giAuMBEfDnjXMCJn_fetyZoEWX-bCCugmn1SmbLE-NMf0oHbNp_7DAou3k8pmem4q0XzV8cgNogDpN7GoaiklIOEg&_hsmi=23763547[/QUOTE]
For decades it has looked like Newfoundland would soon become the next North Sea, if not bigger. But it’s has been a longtime coming. Nova Scotia is expecting big future oil finds in deep water 200 miles south of Halifax (300 miles east of Boston); BP and Shell bought most of those leases.
As far as I know, it has been quite awhile since any US flag OSVs have worked in Canada. I have not been to Newfoundland in a long time, but the OSVs I’ve seen in Halifax are mostly owned by Maersk and Secunda Canada. They have Canadian crews — union crews.
I think the Canadian government, like the US government, has the flexibility to do whatever it thinks is n the national interest, but normally Canadian crews are required on the OSVs.
How about US unlimited ABs working overseas. I know it is easy for licensed people (capt, eng). I know the best way is to be in the union or MSC. I looked into Marsek because of the container ships, of course they are union. Will a country like Singapore hire ABs. Or is this a case where all or a high percentage of ABs have to be citizens of Singapore?
[QUOTE=SeaMonkey6969;174008]How about US unlimited ABs working overseas. I know it is easy for licensed people (capt, eng). I know the best way is to be in the union or MSC. I looked into Marsek because of the container ships, of course they are union. Will a country like Singapore hire ABs. Or is this a case where all or a high percentage of ABs have to be citizens of Singapore?[/QUOTE]
With a population of abt. 5.5 mill. and a large fleet of vessels of all kinds working world wide managed from here, not all under Singapore flag, there are many options for foreigners in the Maritime sector. It is a question of what skills you can offer and at what cost.
Here is a link to Ship Management companies in Singapore: http://directories.lloydslist.com/services-browse/ss/3123/country/Singapore
There are hardly any Singaporean seafarers left. The few that are would be on the big ships, or in the Offshore Oil & Gas industry in various positions. Most end up in shore positions pretty quickly.
I don’t think you would be able to find any AB job that would pay anything like what you are expecting, so my advise would be to upgrade to where you are able to compete for jobs internationally.
Here is a link to the Singapore Register of Ships FYI: http://www.srs.sg/
When you say upgrade I assume you mean like a 1600 ton oceans captain.
[QUOTE=SeaMonkey6969;174011]When you say upgrade I assume you mean like a 1600 ton oceans captain.[/QUOTE]
Aim higher. Only STCW’10 qualifications count in the competition internationally.
[QUOTE=SeaMonkey6969;174008]How about US unlimited ABs working overseas. I know it is easy for licensed people (capt, eng). I know the best way is to be in the union or MSC. I looked into Marsek because of the container ships, of course they are union. Will a country like Singapore hire ABs. Or is this a case where all or a high percentage of ABs have to be citizens of Singapore?[/QUOTE]
I was recently tied up near a foreign tug in the 120 foot (40 meter) 4000 hp range (similar in size to my boat). The mate came by for a visit. They were crewed as follows: master, three mates, three engineers , three ABs, and a cook, for a total of 11 crew onboard. All of the officers were “academy grads” with unlimited COCs(licenses). They were all nationals of the country in which the tug was flagged. Most of them had only worked on tugs. The mate said he got $2000 a month (12 months of pay) and worked a 60/30 schedule. He said it was a good job. He spoke pretty good English and struck me as a competent young man.
[QUOTE=tugsailor;174015]I was recently tied up near a foreign tug in the 120 foot (40 meter) 4000 hp range (similar in size to my boat). The mate came by for a visit. They were crewed as follows: master, three mates, three engineers , three ABs, and a cook, for a total of 11 crew onboard. All of the officers were “academy grads” with unlimited COCs(licenses). They were all nationals of the country in which the tug was flagged. Most of them had only worked on tugs. The mate said he got $2000 a month (12 months of pay) and worked a 60/30 schedule. He said it was a good job. He spoke pretty good English and struck me as a competent young man.[/QUOTE]
I’m surprised they only had 3 engineers…
