Originally Posted by
BarryMG
They were just easier and cheaper to let go - no need for long notice periods and severance packages as for local contract guys.
So there we go. Something else I can think about is that the floating base contract had accommodation included for the 20 days of duty. It was no longer offered to newly hired crew after some point - and now it no longer exists as such. So, wherever you are based, commuting or not - the accommodation is on you. That's another cost-cutting measure, if my logic is right.