Most men looking for offshore work focus exclusively on the Gulf of Mexico, because it is the most familiar and the most accessible, but the Gulf is not the only place where offshore work exists, and it is not even the place where the highest-paying jobs are, because the international offshore market is enormous, and it is growing, and it is desperate for American workers, because American workers have a reputation for reliability, for competence, and for following safety protocols, and that reputation is worth a premium in countries where the local workforce does not have the same training or the same standards.
The international offshore market includes the North Sea, the Persian Gulf, West Africa, Southeast Asia, and the waters off Australia and Brazil, and each of these regions has its own unique characteristics, its own pay scales, and its own requirements, but they all share one thing in common: they need workers, and they are willing to pay for them, and the men who understand the international market are the ones who have access to opportunities that the Gulf-only crowd will never even know about.
1. Demand for American Workers Is Higher Than Ever
American workers are in high demand internationally because of the training and certification standards that we take for granted, and because of the work ethic that is associated with American workers, and because of the safety culture that is ingrained in American workers, and the companies that operate internationally know that an American worker is less likely to cut corners, less likely to cause an accident, and more likely to follow the rules, and that reliability is worth paying for.
The demand for American workers is not just about competence, it is also about language, because English is the language of the offshore industry, and American workers are native English speakers, and that fluency is valuable in an environment where clear communication can be the difference between a safe operation and a catastrophic failure.
2. The Pay Is Often Higher Than the Gulf
The pay in the international market is often higher than the pay in the Gulf of Mexico, because the international companies have to offer a premium to attract workers from the United States, and because the working conditions are often more demanding, and because the rotations are often longer, and the men who are willing to work internationally can earn significantly more than their Gulf-based counterparts.
The pay is not just higher in absolute terms, it is also higher in relative terms, because the cost of living in many international locations is lower than in the United States, and the men who work internationally are often able to save a larger percentage of their income, and they are able to build wealth faster than they could in the Gulf.
3. The Rotations Are Often More Flexible
The rotations in the international market are often more flexible than the rotations in the Gulf, because the international companies are more willing to accommodate different schedules, and because the distances involved are often greater, and because the logistics of getting workers to and from the rig are more complex, and the men who are willing to work internationally often have more control over their schedules, and they are able to negotiate rotations that work better for their personal lives.
The rotations in the international market are often longer, sometimes 28 days on and 28 days off, or even 42 days on and 42 days off, and these longer rotations require more commitment, but they also provide more time off, and the men who are willing to work the longer rotations are the ones who earn the highest pay and who have the most time to enjoy their money.
4. The Entry Barriers Are Lower Than You Think
The entry barriers for international work are lower than most men think, because the international companies are often more willing to hire workers without previous offshore experience, and because they are more willing to provide training, and because they are more willing to sponsor work visas, and the men who are willing to do the research and to make the calls are the ones who find the opportunities that other men miss.
The entry barriers are not nonexistent, but they are manageable, and the men who are willing to do the work to get the necessary documentation and certifications are the ones who break into the international market, and the men who are not willing to do the work are the ones who stay on the shore.
5. The Certifications Are Often Transferable
The certifications that you earn in the United States are often transferable to the international market, because the international standards are based on the same STCW framework that the United States uses, and because the international companies are familiar with the US certifications, and because the US certifications are recognized as meeting the highest standards, and the men who have their TWIC, MMC, and HUET certifications are often able to work internationally with minimal additional training.
The certifications are not always directly transferable, but the gaps are usually small, and the companies are often willing to provide the additional training that is needed, and the men who are willing to invest the time and effort to get their certifications are the ones who have the most options.
6. The Lifestyle Is Not for Everyone
The international lifestyle is not for everyone, because the distances are greater, the rotations are longer, and the cultural differences can be challenging, and the men who succeed in the international market are the ones who are adaptable, who are patient, and who are willing to embrace the differences, and the men who are not adaptable are the ones who struggle and who eventually return to the Gulf.
The international lifestyle is not about being a tourist, it is about being a worker, and the men who understand this are the ones who thrive, and the men who do not are the ones who wash out.
7. The Long-Term Opportunities Are Significant
The long-term opportunities in the international market are significant, because the industry is growing, and the demand for workers is increasing, and the men who establish themselves in the international market are the ones who have the most options, and they are the ones who are able to command the highest pay, and they are the ones who are able to build the most wealth.
The long-term opportunities are not just about the money, they are also about the lifestyle, because the international rotations provide more time off, and the international locations provide more opportunities for travel, and the international experience provides more opportunities for advancement.
8. The Tools That Will Help You Break In
Our Greenhat Entry Pack gives you the Gulf of Mexico direct contractor directory with over 150 direct contacts, the TWIC and medical credentialing guide, the offshore-formatted resume template, the greenhat survival field manual, and the Port Fourchon and Houma crewing map, and it gives you the foundation you need to start your offshore career.
Our Offshore Commander Pack includes everything in the Greenhat Entry Pack, plus the global deepwater and rig operator vault with over 350 direct hiring contacts, the direct crewing manager phone and email roster, the HUET, STCW and MOC certification shortcut guide, the subsea, pipeline and specialized vessel access protocol, and the personal resume review and rig formatting audit, and it gives you the tools you need to break into the international market.
Our Sovereign Rig Operator Pack includes everything in the Offshore Commander Pack, plus the direct international rig and FPSO contact database covering the Persian Gulf, North Sea, and West Africa, the 1-on-1 tactical strategy session for direct deployment planning, the custom rig application dispatch service where we target your credentials, and the lifetime directory updates and hiring alert bulletins, and it gives you the ultimate support for building a sustainable international offshore career.
If you are ready to stop limiting yourself to the Gulf and start exploring the opportunities that exist all over the world, check out the tiers found HERE and choose the pack that fits your needs.