Say goodbye to the Nekton Pilot

[diverdoug1]

Say goodbye to the Nekton Pilot ..... Nekton Offshore > Home

 

[Wookie]

Not necessarily goodbye. I'm doing mostly NOAA work this year, as Scuba diving just ain't cutting it. With any luck, the Pilot will do a few months of oilfield work, get the refit she seems to need, and be back in the scuba diving game before you know it. I've been called 3 times in the past week to support the spill cleanup. Other liveaboard owners are surely getting the same calls I am.

Remember, this is a website to advertise a service. She will still have to still be inspected and brought back into service. Oilfield workers will not stay on a vessel that is unsafe or uncomfortable. The managers of the Nekton will soon learn that if they want to crew the vessel, they will have to pay a living wage to their crew. There is soon to be a big awakening in Ft. Lauderdale....

 

[diverdoug1]

I posted this because the Nekton diving website is showing it will be available for diving cruises this summer. I don't think that is going to happen. Also, the website I linked to does not only "advertise a service", it also has the Pilot for sale.

 

[cdolphin]

There is soon to be a big awakening in Ft. Lauderdale....

Frank, you're such a tease......I had to go to facebook, read all your notes, and still....no clues to your mysterious statement.:ermm:

oops Hijack.

Too bad about the Pilot, and it's so sad about the whole Gulf thing. I was wondering how many dive liveaboards would be called into service.

 

[Scott L]

The managers of the Nekton will soon learn that if they want to crew the vessel, they will have to pay a living wage to their crew. There is soon to be a big awakening in Ft. Lauderdale....

Can you elabrate?

 

[Wookie]

Can you elabrate?

Sure. Every crew member on the Spree makes $100 per day plus tips (Except me, the Mate, and Mel). Mel and I make equity. I am a firm believer in paying a person for the work they do, and liveaboard crew work hard. Compare to payscales on other liveaboards. Our Mate is below oilfield wages, the crew is on par with them. The last liveaboard I worked on (15 years ago) paid one divemaster $85/week, the cook $200/week, the Engineer $250/week, the skipper $300/week, the Stewardess $50/week. When liveaboards move to federal contracting, they are required to meet certain payscales which are outlined in ORCA, or the Online Representations and Certifications. Most other liveaboard owners choke when I tell them what I pay my employees. It is a rude awakening for them. Oilfield work is a crappy job, and crew will not work for whatever the owner thinks is fair, especially when you can go scrub birds or haul boom for $200/day, room and board included.

 

[Scott L]

Sure. Every crew member on the Spree makes $100 per day plus tips (Except me, the Mate, and Mel). Mel and I make equity. I am a firm believer in paying a person for the work they do, and liveaboard crew work hard. Compare to payscales on other liveaboards. Our Mate is below oilfield wages, the crew is on par with them. The last liveaboard I worked on (15 years ago) paid one divemaster $85/week, the cook $200/week, the Engineer $250/week, the skipper $300/week, the Stewardess $50/week. When liveaboards move to federal contracting, they are required to meet certain payscales which are outlined in ORCA, or the Online Representations and Certifications. Most other liveaboard owners choke when I tell them what I pay my employees. It is a rude awakening for them. Oilfield work is a crappy job, and crew will not work for whatever the owner thinks is fair, especially when you can go scrub birds or haul boom for $200/day, room and board included.

You are a good man.

 

[Dr Dive]

This spill has thrown the entire industry into a re-evaluation mode. It is a tragedy and an opportunity at the same time. Good for John for considering all his options. This follows several bad years due to the general economy. DiverDoug and I share recent disappointments with Nekton, but I think we all would like them to succeed. Nobody wants to see someone fail. Everyone in the dive industry is considering all options and keeping them open. It's what we have to do. It doesn't mean any option we choose will be forever. We love diving and that's where we'll be, Lord willing and the creek don't rise. Don't give up on any of your standby businesses. Support them to the best of your ability. Just my $0.02.

Capt. Jim
Dr Dive
www.drdive.com
[EMAIL="drdive@drdive.com"]drdive@drdive.com[/EMAIL]
www.facebook.com/DrDiveCharters

 

[DiveMaven]

I hope John Dixon is extremely successful in using the Pilot in this manner, makes a bunch of money and HONORS his obligations to the folks who have booked trips on the Rorqual. In the best circumstances, he'd put money back into his business, refurbish both boats and return Nekton to it's old place in the liveaboard market. I'd return for another trip (or two, or three) in a heartbeat if he did.

Unfortunately the way things stand now, I won't even consider a trip with them.

 

[mike_s]

The Pilot has been for sale for a bit on dive boat brokers - main index


However, the Roqual is out of commission also. They've canceled the next 3 weeks charters. (due to failures of their primary and secondary generators).

I just hope they don't leave their customers, many who have been loyal for years, hanging without a refund.

Sure. Every crew member on the Spree makes $100 per day plus tips

thanks Frank. I assume that's for "days they work" when the boat goes out and not for days when it's in port?



from reading other threads in the past months, it seems there are several current or past Nekton crew members that have posted here saying they weren't getting paid.

Of course if their boats are out of action, I'm not sure if they get paid their base rate or not. but they surely don't get the tips they depend on.

either way... it's just not a good situation for anyone involved. (passengers/customers, crew, etc...)