What would you prefer - be told 6 months to command and have it take 18 months - or be told 18 months and get it in 6?
The retention bonus is not to cover the cost of the endorsement - if you choose to put it towards the cost of the endorsement good on you - but that isn't what it is for...and yes it is in the new draft EBA - paid annually at the end of the financial year.
I understand that the tax office has issued a ruling disallowing claims for the endorsement as they consider it to be a capital expense and therefore not deductible.
Not sure of the average F/O hours but the skippers are doing about 75-80 hours a month. I understand that the F/O's are doing less than that.