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chrismlewis · 05-25-2004, 04:37 PM

I hope that was a jest aeronautic!

The West Oz coast guys do very well, but work much harder for their living, and the places are very limited. The dive & fish boats on the East coast work equally hard, and for much less money. Try getting a US stew/ deck hand to work the same hours, work load, danger, rotation schedule etc

As far as immigration goes the vast majority of "foreigners" here that I have come across have a B1/ B2 which as well as being a long term tourist visa is also a non-immigrant business visa. The only seaman's visa that the US has is the C1/D that is only good for stays of 28 days max.

As the penalties against the boat are $5000 per person for bringing crew in to the USA without proper visas I would never employ anyone without it.

As for flags, don't get me started. You are very well qualified and experienced (I don't remember your exact details, but I read another message with your marine and aero qualifications). You can work on almost any flag around the world including the red flag boats if you take the couple of short courses. The US, as usual has refused to play the IMO treaties; I am also very well qualified and experienced (over 500,000n miles) but I cannot get certified to work on US Flagged yachts by merit of my internationally accepted STCW 95 tickets.

The main problem for guys with experience right now is that the insurance companies have the bar too low, so anyone with a class 4 can and do get jobs running 50m+ yachts. They have the power to ensure that these guys have trained, on the job, as mates, under a properly qualified Captain before they get command (the owners don't seem to get the intricate details). I know that in the age of sail command was achieved by the early to mid 20s, but these guys had been at sea every day since the age of 15. If the losses incurred at the hands of inexperienced or badly trained Capts & crews were studied, maybe the premiums would be discounted for well trained and qualifed personnel?

05-25-2004, 04:37 PM	#11
chrismlewis Registered User Join Date: May 2004 Location: Ft lauderdale Posts: 12	Aussies in the USA I hope that was a jest aeronautic! The West Oz coast guys do very well, but work much harder for their living, and the places are very limited. The dive & fish boats on the East coast work equally hard, and for much less money. Try getting a US stew/ deck hand to work the same hours, work load, danger, rotation schedule etc As far as immigration goes the vast majority of "foreigners" here that I have come across have a B1/ B2 which as well as being a long term tourist visa is also a non-immigrant business visa. The only seaman's visa that the US has is the C1/D that is only good for stays of 28 days max. As the penalties against the boat are $5000 per person for bringing crew in to the USA without proper visas I would never employ anyone without it. As for flags, don't get me started. You are very well qualified and experienced (I don't remember your exact details, but I read another message with your marine and aero qualifications). You can work on almost any flag around the world including the red flag boats if you take the couple of short courses. The US, as usual has refused to play the IMO treaties; I am also very well qualified and experienced (over 500,000n miles) but I cannot get certified to work on US Flagged yachts by merit of my internationally accepted STCW 95 tickets. The main problem for guys with experience right now is that the insurance companies have the bar too low, so anyone with a class 4 can and do get jobs running 50m+ yachts. They have the power to ensure that these guys have trained, on the job, as mates, under a properly qualified Captain before they get command (the owners don't seem to get the intricate details). I know that in the age of sail command was achieved by the early to mid 20s, but these guys had been at sea every day since the age of 15. If the losses incurred at the hands of inexperienced or badly trained Capts & crews were studied, maybe the premiums would be discounted for well trained and qualifed personnel? Last edited by chrismlewis : 05-25-2004 at 04:48 PM.