Sorry shep69 but the 'company' deliberately do not incorporate in the usa for this reason. They operate on a 'letter of qualification' as a foreign employer and as such can screw even US citizens out of even the most basic benefits afforded real onshore employees. US based crews remain employees of the 'company' in hk which begs the question "where are their hk work permits and benefits"? The fact that the company chose to cancel benefits already paid for by staff a few months short of the 10 year qualifying period for a lot of them surely tells you something about this employer's character. They certainly jerked the rug on them when they could have flown the last 10 years for a company with a conscience.
The whole setup is fragile and smacks of paris.
Incidentally I see the EU have got together to stop asshole companies doing just this to their minions.