Payment discipline is the story here. Wages come through a month behind, split in two transfers, and sometimes the delay reaches two months. After signing off you spend another month reminding them about the remainder — stop reminding and it quietly stalls. When you leave, the line is that the owners never take people back; in practice they call about once a year with an offer. Workable for a start if you can tolerate the cash flow.
I worked three contracts with the company, and it feels like a family business where everyone knows each other. There are no fitters; the old man or the second engineer does the welding. I left only because it was hard to get promoted to senior mechanic. They promised me the position and assigned a ship, but in the end, they offered me the second engineer position again. The food is good, and they often provide BBQ and beer. I liked the company, but it's not for the lazy; you can't just sit back in the engine room.
I am currently on a product tanker of this company. Most of the ships operate in the US and South America. The crew is a mix of nationalities. The food is of good quality, although the cook's limited menu is disappointing. The response time for urgent needs is quick. Internet is available at a reasonable price. Contracts are typically around 5 months, and there are no major issues with crew changes. Overall, I would rate my experience a solid 4 out of 5.