Trouble
The oil companies may have a great political lobby and I am sure that thet don't like rate hikes mid contract but let me assure you of one thing, They (the oil companies) are commercial and moraly responsible for the safe transport of offshore personnel, yet they audit and bully the operators into such a position that lack of investment in machinery and moreover suitably qualified pilots that are sufice in number (therfore properly rostered and rested) to a point that it has now become dangerous to travel offshore.
"Dangerous" you might say is too strong a word. You should see the crew room in the morning, pilots with 795 hrs boncing off there 800 max annual for the last three months, every one is aware of it and yet they play the "poor customer" well they will be if any of my colleagues gets there wings clipped.
There has been several incidents of late that have fatigue as more than a casual factor, I really do hope that there will not be a loss of life incident. The following law suite will cost the oil companies far more than any sensible rate increase, not only in Dollar terms but in future offshore confidence in general.
