No one really wants to "save" the Merchant Marine

[captarne]

True but that is separate from vessel operation, many foreign vessels pay their CEO’s quite well.

[freighterman1]

It is a mystery to me why the CEO of a company like Matson makes more than say, $800,000 a year. You could find someone who could the job just as well for that money. The board of directors is supposed to be looking our for the shareholder, and pinching pennies. Why the lavish pay?

For a CEO, knowing the right experts to hire and listening to them is more important than what you know yourself. So is it case that the chief accountant and chief I.T. officer working for the CEO make $3 mil a year each, so the CEO has to make $5? I’ve never understood this.

[Steamer]

My point is that the percentage of company revenue that goes to one individual is tilted obscenely by American companies. That alone must invalidate any argument against paying American laborers a “living wage” or any claim that our wages are the reason for the decline of the merchant marine.

[Miek]

It’s called Capitalism look it up

[Steamer]

Since those CEOs risk no personal capital and their fortunes do not fall when they destroy the company they run, it is more an oligarchy. Capitalism is the Kool-Aid term for our budding form of kleptocracy.

[Kennebec_Captain]

@Miek

It’s called Capitalism look it up

Here’s a link.

Das Kapital - Capital: Critique of Political... by Marx, Karl

[captarne]

Yes your point is correct, especially with companies in financial straits. But Maersk is a Danish company, not American. But the problems with the U.S. merchant marine are many. Unfortunately there is no consensus on solving these issues. But bottom line as long as we are competing against foreign flag ships and shipyards, we will be in trouble.

[Capt_Phoenix]

@injunear

I guess it’s hell not to get a trophy…

You’re the generation that started giving every kid a participation trophy. You’re not insulting the kids, your insulting yourself.

[injunear]

I don’t blame my whole generation for the trophy bullshit. I blame the small section that runs the educational system. The same bunch that has weakened discipline. Look where that’s got us’

[Capt_Phoenix]

@injunear

I blame the small section that runs the educational system.

What does the educational system have to do with it? It was the rec and parks sports teams giving out participation trophies and the parents demanded it.

[SeaEagle]

You are correct sir. The local sports recruiters/newspapers in high school had much more impact than the cheesy trophys than the other folks you mentioned.

[Anonnymouus]

There should always be some kind of discipline in schools but what matters is having interested students and an interesting curriculum.

[ShooterMcGavin]

@captarne

But bottom line as long as we are competing against foreign flag ships and shipyards, we will be in trouble.

The most optimism I show these days is knowing we’re going to be on life support a little longer. Maybe I’m just a cynical asshole, but the days of a large, vibrant US merchant fleet are long over.

[SwampAssassin]

Totally in favor of getting rid of the US build requirement but just to add some thought what about you can build ships overseas, but they have to do their shipyards at US yards

[john]

@Meme.Lord

come from a generation of Mariners that is often accused of just making memes making fun of John Konrad, and not really contributing to the conversation on what we can do in regards to actually “saving” the US merchant marine.

Well you do make a lot of memes about me.

[john]

Looks like CATO approves of this message.

Colin Grabow (cpgrabow)

[john]

@Meme.Lord

It’s true, I never come to the gcaptain forum because you all are just a bunch of grumpy old men. Last time I posted something here I was a high school student asking how to become a pilot, and predictably I was roasted to a crisp. But after enough people sent me forum posts about "those damn millennial snowflakes’’ complaining and not contributing, I figured I ought to throw in my two cents.

I am sorry for that. Seriously, it’s kept me up many nights. IDK what the solution is. Maybe I should ban people for being grumpy?

@Meme.Lord

There you go. Quick and dirty, how to get more ships, merchant marine saved, John can put down the radio and stop calling pan pan.

Everything you wrote above this was about the Jones Act. But did, I even mention the word Jones act in my videos? I don’t think I did. Maybe off-handed but I rarely talk about the Jones act directly yet everyone seems to pull the conversation back to JA. Why?

Is the Jones Act an important part of the US Merchant Marine today? Yes BUT imho it’s just one small component of who we are.

@Meme.Lord

Next comes the issue of crewing. We see these stories about how the merchant marine is going to run out of mariners, yall around here act like that shortage is in the officer’s mess, like increasing Kings Point’s funding is going to change anything. We graduate enough 3rd mates every year to relieve every 3rd mate in the fleet,

Again I didn’t say funding KP had anything to do with crewing. I said we need to fund technology and research and development at KP. Of course, I can’t go into the details about why that’s important because the videos were already 40min long but it is important. Short sea shipping for example is taking off in Europe but they are doing it with smaller boxes and mechanized cargo loading.

@Meme.Lord

Officer’s job boards can be scribbled into a pocket-sized notebook, while SIU regularly has 75 jobs on the board.

I wish I had a better relationship with SIU. That’s probably my fault. That said my contact information is not hard to find and they are welcome to post those jobs here. I can also help them get set up to recruit via social media. I also run a job board and would be happy to let them post a few jobs for free to see if it help.

@Meme.Lord

My buddies and I disagree on this next reason, but as Crowley and Matson are losing their shorts,

That’s just not true. Have you seen Matson’s stock price lately? They are pulling in some serious cash. Crowley is private but from what I hear they are doing well at the moment too.

Anyway, thank you for posting. I don’t mind the meme’s about me, they are funny. You are funny. Thank you.

But again, I gotta ask the question, why me? If you think KP funding is a joke why not do memes about Jack B and Buzby and those who are fighting to increase funding? If you think the “ShIpYaRdS” are ridiculous why aren’t there any memes with pictures of the CEO’s of those shipyards? If dispatch won’t return your calls why not meme’s about those specific dispatchers? I’m not talking about general union memes… I’m talking about specific people. If ABS is signing off on you “old ass equipment.” and making you “Pray to God she can stay afloat” then why haven’t I seen their chairman, Chris Wiernick.i, featured in any meme’s? If you love the Jones act then why not meme up Colin Grabow, if you hate it why not meme up Jim Henry at Transportation Institute? Why is it just me?

How many people even know who Grabow and Henry are?? You have the power to show them. Why not use it (and make us laugh in the process)?

Why do you memeify the one guy who gives a shit about you? The one guy who’s stock price isn’t soaring like MATX. Who isn’t making $$$ off your rusting ships. Who isn’t making much $ at all. The one guy who is willing to turn on the camera and tell the truth (or at least his F’d up version of the truth as he sees it)?

The bottom line: I don’t care if you or anyone else agrees with me or not. I know I’m wrong about a lot of things. I know my solutions aren’t the best ideas around. But the one thing I do better than most is getting people to give a shit and do something (anything).

And that’s all I want. Is to get people to speak up and care. Just a little.

I’m not pushing an agenda. I’m not supporting any specific Jones Policy. I’m just trying to get people to give a shit.

[john]

Also… what are your thoughts on this meme I just made?

How would you rate it on a scale of 1 to 10?

Any thoughts on how I could make it better?

[john]

Ohh and here’s a meme explaining why I keep letting those those grumpy people back into the forum :

P.S. yes I am talking about the @c.captain gang

[jdcavo]

@john

P.S. yes I am talking about the @c.captain gang

I consider them to be more of a “cabal.” Plus, it’s alliterative.