Maritime News & Stuff

Hi Dennis,

You seem very knowledgeable about this subject, as well as open to questions, so I thought I’d give you a shot. I have been seriously considering a career as a merchant marine officer. I had intended to attend CSUM in Vallejo, but they are not accepting any more applicants for their Marine Transportation program until fall of 2011. In the meantime, I was hoping to get some deep-sea experience to make sure this was definitely the career I wanted to pursue. I have already received my TWIC credentials, and was intending to complete my STCW courses in a couple months as well as get my Merchant Mariner’s documents. My question is, am I on the right track? If I get everything done that I just listed, is it going to be difficult for me to get a job since I have NO prior experience at sea? I’m hoping to get an entry-level position that will let me work for an extended time at deep-sea, hopefully see some foreign ports, and observe what an officer’s job is like. What are some resources for finding a job like this? I would appreciate any feedback. Thanks for your time.

Nick

It sounds like you are on the right track and have a good plan. There are several companies that are hiring OS – Cooks at this time. While this is a long way from a ship officers job, it will give you an opportunity to gain some sea service experience with the idea of learning about the lifestyle.

Another option you could consider is to attend a community college to complete some of the general education requirements for the marine transportation degree. This will not reduce the time required to complete the program at the university, but it will lighten your course load to allow you more time to focus on the maritime courses. Also there are several community colleges that offer two year maritime degrees that can prepare you for you for a successfull university program.

I have been receiving questions regarding regulations governing the heating systems on passenger vessels. These regulations are contained in 46 CFR 25.45 Cooking, Heating and Lighting Systems; part 25.45-1 describes the heating systems that it is legal to use of vessels carrying passengers for hire. This regulation states:

No fuel may be used in any heating or lighting system on any vessel carrying passengers for hire without the approval of Commandant (G-MSE), except— (1)Alcohol, solid, (2) Alcohol, liquid, combustible, (3) Fuel oil, No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3, (4) Kerosene, (5) Wood or, (6) Coal.

According to this regulation it is not legal to use a propane heating system on a passenger vessel without the expressed permission of the Commandant of the Coast Guard.

To view the regulation in click here.

Hello Dennis,

I read your answer to the question from the guy interested in working on the freighters. I am also interested in pursuing this a career and could use all the help I can get. I live in Jersey about 15 miles from Staten Island, NY. Any advice is appreciated!

Matt

Matt,

I am always happy to help people get started in a maritime career. There are a couple of ways of getting started:

• If you have good academic skills you should consider attending a maritime academy. There are several schools around the country that have bachelor degree programs that include getting either a third mate unlimited or a third engineers license.
• If a four year school is not to your liking there are several community colleges and vocational schools that provide two year programs that include able seaman or qualified member of the engine department training.
• If the academic approach is not your style and you would prefer to learn the ropes on the job than you need to get an ordinary seaman’s document or z-card. This credential will allow you to work on sea going commercial vessels as a deck hand, a wiper in the engine room, or as a food handler in the stewards department.

For more information visit one of my websites or send me another email.

Good Sailing,

Dennis, Home Page

Does your 64 hr course include the Columbia endorsement?

Joe

Joe,

Yes the 64-hour OUPV license course includes the Columbia River endorsement. In fact the course satisfies the USCG exam requirements for an OUPV license endorsed for all inland waters of the US including all waters of Alaska. If you have 90 days of sea service on ocean waters the license will be endorsed for near coastal as well, meaning you can carry six or fewer passengers on all inland waters of the US and all ocean waters within 100 miles of shore.

Good Sailing,

Dennis

Sefl study for the upgrade from Master 100 to Master 200 is always an option. The USCG charges $100 for administering the exams and you will spend from $100 to $200 on study materials plus one to two months of study time depending on your level of experience and knowledge. Since the cost of the four day course is $600 this could save you from $300 to $400 plus the cost of travel to Portland. There are three exam modules required to upgrade a Master 100 ton near coastal license to Master 200 ton near coastal.

Exam module 011X3 Deck General, Safety and Environmental Protection (20 questions, 70% passing). This exam is generally heavy with inspected vessel regulations and stability, including several questions requiring stability calculations.

Exam module 054XX Rules of the Road (50 questions, 90% passing). This is a standard Rules of the Road exam.

Exam module 073XX Navigation General and Chart Navigation (20 questions, 90% passing) This exam takes all the elements from the 100 ton chart exam, adds a couple of new concepts, and puts it into a progressive format. They are generally always heavy in compass corrections (both magnetic and gyro), DR plotting, application of set and drift, and use of supporting publications. In addition they almost always include a tide and tidal current problem and a range and visibility of light problem in every exam.

Sir, my name is John, and I was trying too find out about upgrading to a 200 ton master, but am a little confused, maybe you could explain it a little better for me. I recieved my 100 ton master n/c lic. back in 06. at the time of all this I was working as and a/b unl. on a vessel over 1500 tons. I recieved my capt. indorsement by august. I kept working as and a/b with the promise of being placed as a captain on 1 of thier smaller vessel. which never happened. I left there and got hired as a captain and been doing it ever sinse. but nothing over 90 tons. Sir I have over 203.5, 12 hours days=305, and 363.5, 12 hours=545 days and counting. as captain. the bottom line is I read where you have to have the tonnage in the last 3 yrs. is this true. thanks for your time Sir. by the way when getting my lic. I renewed my stcw, and a/b. all need to be renewed by august 2011. Thanks again

John,

It sounds like you have plenty of sea service experience to upgrade your license from Master 100 tons to Master 200 tons. Here are the requirements:

Qualifying experience for the Master 200 ton near coastal license is two years on ocean waters (the GOM counts as ocean waters); one year of experience on the Great Lakes or inland waters may be used to meet this qualifying experience. One year of the qualifying experience must have been as master or mate while holding a license.

From what you say you have plenty of qualifying experience.

Tonnage limitations for licenses of 200 tons and less are issued in 50 ton increments rounding up based on the formula of either the maximum tonnage that 25% of your qualifying experience was on OR 150% of the maximum tonnage that 50% of your qualifying experience was on. This means that to qualify for a Master 200 ton license you need either 180 days on vessels over 150 tons or 360 days on vessels over 100 tons; to qualify for a Master 150 ton license you need either 180 days on vessels over 100 tons or 360 days on vessels over 67 tons.

From what you say you have plenty of qualifying tonnage.

The recent sea service requirement is 90 days of experience on vessels of appropriate size within the past three years.

Since you did not specify any dates of employment I cannot determine if any of your tonnage on vessels over 100 tons was in the past three years, but even if it is not you should still qualify for a Master 150 ton license based on your experience operating vessels under the authority of your Master 100 ton license. The Master 150 ton license can be easily upgrade to Master 200 ton without testing by gaining sea service experience operating vessels between 100 and 150 tons.

Good Sailing,

Dennis