GoodGrief
The companies haven't neglected their responsibilities what has happened is that experienced offshore co-pilots have left the industry to do other things, be it fixed wing, EMS or Police. This has left a shortage of suitable candidates to promote to captain which is exacerbated by the increase in flying due to the high oil price, which requires more crews.
There seems to be no shortage of lower time pilots with IRs to fill co-pilot positions what there is a shortage of, as I said before, is pilots with suitable offshore/SAR experience. Even a pilot with a 1000hr experience of instructing is not much use until he has gained enough multi-crew IFR time in horrible weather.
HF