The real pickle about needing to be PIC is slowly being addressed. You either start out on tankers as a cadet/AB and bump up, or you go out as an AB for a short stint to get the loads and discharges. AMO has some sort of observer programs, but that’s mostly for LNG ships.
I understand that they don’t want observers. That costs money. The owners never want to exceed the COI minimum and even try to get that cut every chance they get.
It will only change when they have to take the ship off charter because of a lack of officers which will cost them even more money.
What gets me about the ATB’s is why would they need a MOTV at all? Unless I’m mis-informed, the tug w/o barge is inherently unstable and only gets pulled in the yard. Please correct me if I’m wrong about that.