Problem I see is they hesitate to get rid of the guys who are always getting into trouble, and even when they do someone else will hire them right up without checking into their past. Too many examples come to mind of people who should have been run out of the business for major fuckups. CG personally to blame for not pulling licenses. I’d be too embarrassed to show my face on a tugboat again if I was involved in some of those cases.
Look at what the grain terminals are able to pay those guys running boats for them on the Columbia river! No reason they can’t pay the rest of us that cash.
Like you tugsailor I hope the value will increase for us with a MOT. There is a big group I see retiring in the next 5 years that should in theory make it happen.