Not much call for DDE 1000’s, from what I’ve seen.
I applaud your ambition to get ahead. Everyone wants to make more money for sure.
What I would recommend to you is concentrating on getting to the rank of QMED and then being prepared to spend about four or five years at that level. The most important aspect of being a hawsepiper is gaining real, usable experience.
When you get to the level of licensed engineer you are really responsible for a lot of important shit. People will be counting on you to do your job properly, and you’ll be grateful for every day you spent as a QMED learning from the people who went before you.
Six months sea time as a wiper and then 1080 days as a QMED will let you sit for 3rd Assistant. Get to that level and then the learning REALLY begins.
Also, engine room hawsepipers try to get on vessels with as much horsepower as possible - 4000 HP minimum. The bigger the engines, the bigger the license you can get.
Get stuck with a small license and the job opportunities are fewer and further between.