hitch-hiker from the deep

[CaptainRob]

Big shortage in my game too. No-one wants to go to sea anymore. So they bring in people from overseas on 457 visas to fill the gaps. That's all professions; masters, mates, DPO, engineers, IR's (sailors). So the future doesn't look so good as the numbers don't add up. That's one reason why crusty old farts like me still get chased for jobs! I teach in a TAFE college (I teach Shipmaster 4, at SEAMEC, Lakes Entrance, during my leave) and they'll be pushing to get 10 students a year. The Offshore Oil Industry work on ships is pretty good though. You get 1.153 days leave for every day you work - that's 7months leave in 12 months, so you're home longer than you are away. Which isn't much use to me cos my wife gets the shits with me after a week!!