[mcculley]

No worries. I agree that “nobody wants to work” is a thought-terminating cliche. I think it is a dumb oversimplification, like “there is no such thing as a labor shortage”.

The process is that one generally comes on as an uncredentialed deckhand or mechanic and accrues necessary seatime, then takes courses and passes tests. One must pass an annual physical and be subject to random drug tests. The deckhand must be able to get a TWIC card and a passport if doing anything international. Candidates with previous problems with DUIs, child support, etc. have trouble with this. Then you have to be willing to live in cramped quarters with 3-5 other men 24 hours a day. All of these requirements cut down the pool of likely candidates.

One has to work at this job for a few years to be able to have accrued the seatime and learn on the job and take some courses and then take a test.

So even if I could pay a deckhand $500k per year, that doesn't fix the problem we have today. That deckhand will not be a captain for years.

And most deckhands don't have the aptitude to become captains.

You don't have to take my word for it. You could talk to anybody in the industry.

See, e.g.,: https://www.google.com/search?q=tugboat+labor+shortage