Quote Originally Posted by aposhark View Post
I worked offshore for many years also subseastu (worked as electronics tech.)
I am a diver also, but only for sport...too many scary stories about doing it as a job for me.

I was in Dokki (in Cairo), Ras Shukier, Ras Gharib back in 1977 and then also in the 80's.
This type of thing happened a lot to me also, I suppose it comes with the territory
You never knew when you were going home until it happened back then.

I was on oil rigs and pipelay barges there also, and had good and bad days.....as we all do.
Try to keep positive, the job situation in the UK is not the best at the moment.

I actually found Egyptians to be fairly competant and was often shocked at how badly the Saudis treated them.

We only had SSB radio for comms in those days, it's a bit different these days LOL

Chin up mate
Wow, I'm actually working off Ras Shukhier now probably on the same platforms you worked alongside. Infact, now keep this under your hat, but we are now working for Gupco which is the egyptian branch of BP and we've just had to pull over one off their platforms and cap the wells. Basically due to the fact that since they where installed 25 - 30yr ago absolutely no maintenence has been done on them what so ever. THey only realised there was a problem when a helicopter landed on one of them and promptly had to take off again due to excessive movement!!! THeres been a media blackout due to the problem they've had over in the states.

Turns out nearly every structural member had broken at the weld and it was only the weight of the topside keeping it upright!!

I actually worked with this lot round in saudi the other year and to be honest it was nice to see the saudis treating the egyptians as badly as they did. Mainly to show them what its like for others. The egyptians treat S africians, indians and canadians badly but the filipinos get it worst. So to be honest it was a bit of payback.

The biggest problem I have at the moment is that after informing the office and reorganising my appointments etc, sorting the family for xmas, fat man in the office then puts a spanner in the works for no reason what so ever. I mean who'd have an egyptian back to back and work xmas?! Its not like he's going to know the difference is he?!