If you are finished with your incredibly misinformed rant, there are a couple of issues that apply to this and a few other posts on this particular topic. I don’t mean to pick on you personally but you just happened to list in one rambling post all the issues others also imagine apply.
I would take that delivery in a heartbeat. It would not risk my hard earned unlimited chief’s license and I would thorougly enjoy the trip … after it was over.
You listed all the reasons this is illegal or “clearly” outside the regulatory bounds, or falls under the towing rules, or requires this or that, but you are simply wrong. As I suggested early on, this is a public vessel, it is a military vessel and the delivery is on behalf of the Military Sealift Command through the Maritime Administration. All the rules you claim would be violated do not apply and this is completely legal and above board.
You may not like the terms or the manning but it is what it is. If you don’t want to do the job, don’t apply. I don’t think you would be happy or would make other crewmembers happy anyway so it’s all for the better. As one of several who have demonstrated a fundamental lack of maritime knowledge and understanding of the regulations, I suggest that you and the others refrain from posting sweeping generalizations of what you think you know to be required by law. The term “professional” has been bandied about quite a bit in this thread in the context of what one would not do. A professional mariner knows what rules and laws he operates within. Only the amateurs and self appointed sea lawyers post the type of nonsense I have read in this thread. I hope that most readers recognize this for what it is and ignore it.
As far as determining the real facts on this job and this contract … it doesn’t take much to find out. For those who lack the skill or desire to learn the facts … I won’t do your homework for you but I will provide a search string you can use to Google everything you need to know about this job.
Maritime Administration Solicitation Number - N00033-10-R-1000
And for those worried about pirates … read the solicitation very carefully, it may" fulfill your fondest dreams.