The Offshore Marine Services Association (OMSA) has delivered a letter to U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy of Louisiana advocating for the enactment of the American Offshore Worker Fairness Act (AOWFA).
The letter is signed by 100 organizations related to the U.S. maritime industry, says OMSA.
The association adds that under current law, when foreign vessels operate in domestic offshore energy projects, they are allowed to employ mariners from across the world and are not bound by domestic pay regulations. Conversely, U.S. vessels are legally required to employ U.S. crew members at U.S. wage rates. This possible pay scale disparity means that foreign vessels could operate at a significant premium.
“This broad support from across the offshore sector underscores the importance of AOWFA,” says Aaron Smith, president of OMSA.
“This bill is crucial for ensuring safe and reliable domestic energy production at a time when the stakes are incredibly high. Without AOWFA and the parity it provides, foreign vessels and crews will continue to take jobs away from American mariners and jeopardize the nation’s economic stability and national security.”
