sailor shortage

[Guest]

After 9/11 shipping on the Great Lakes went down hill fast. Security was set up backwards. Instead of protecting the ships and crews, security made it next to impossible to get off of USA flagged vessels,in USA ports, with USA citizens with homes mostly around the Great Lakes ports that they served. Noithing like having to sit on your ship in your home port not being permitted to go home or taking to your wife through a fence. Crews at some loading ports were not allowed on the dock to shift cables or read draft marks in order to load the vessel because no security person was available. Wages, medical insurance all hit a downhill slide in the 80’s. When I married my wife I made twice her wage. When I retired she made more per hour than I did. Same job different times. Problem getting crews, who wants to be a prisoner on a ship in their home port for peanuts when there is better jobs ashore.

[Guest]

Wonder what opportunity there is for someone that is changing careers at middle age in this field? Or is this profession primarily aimed at younger individuals?

I've sailed with a number of guys who became sailors later in life. Have at it.

[Guest]

The companies that run their boats, or some of their boats and tug barges with a bare minimum crew, have always and now even more so, have had staffing problems. Twelve hour days more or less for 90 days? These aren't the great entry level positions they once were. But steel is a global commodity now, you say?! They could automate and run ore freighters with one guy. Still can't compete with countries that have little to no standard of living and pay steel workers $1.25 / hour. Some of these footers were designed to run smoothly and efficiently with crews of 27. They run some now with 18 guys. Got to compete! Who benefits from the savings?

[Guest]

Wonder what opportunity there is for someone that is changing careers at middle age in this field? Or is this profession primarily aimed at younger individuals?

[david baake]

According to Interlake SS there is a shortage of sailors to man their boats, with all the perks being offered one would think there would be a line a mile long waiting to sign up. Back in my sailing days you would fit out a boat in March and lay her up in December, the only time you got to "go down the street" were when you were loading or unloading, no time off, vacation, etc., how times have changed.