Just wondering what it will take to get my 1600 ton master. I graduated from a maritime academy and have been sailing on tugs as a mate. The CFR says 4 years experience, does any of the time from school count? Thanks for your help.
What did you come out of the academy with? 3rd AGT, 500/ 1600GRT mate?
Can you qualify for 2nd mate with your tug time? If so, you can get 1600 master along with 2nd mate.
Graduated with 3rd Mate AGT, and as far as I know I can’t qualify for 2nd mate cause my time has been on vessels under 200 tons.
10.412 - Service requirements for master of ocean or near coastal steam or motor vessels of not more than 1600 gross tons.
The minimum service required to qualify an applicant for a license as master of ocean or near coastal steam or motor vessels of not more than 1600 gross tons is: (a) Four years total service on ocean or near coastal waters. Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to two years of the required service. Two years of the required service must have been on vessels of over 100 gross tons. Two years of the required service must have been as a master, mate master or mate (pilot) of towing vessels, or equivalent supervisory position while holding a license as master, mate master or mate (pilot) of towing vessels. One year of the service as master, mate master or mate (pilot) of towing vessels, or equivalent supervisory position must have been on vessels of over 100 gross tons; or, (b) An applicant holding a license as chief mate or second mate of ocean or near coastal steam or motor vessels of over 1600 gross tons is eligible for this license upon completion of a limited examination.
I your case I think you need 2 years of service as mate. That is 480 twelve hour days or 720 eight hour days. That is my interpretation. The 4 years total time this is talking about in a total of all the time required. You have already met some of that requirement with the time turned in to get your 3rd Mate. Now the only requirement you will have to fulfill is the time serving as Mate. I think it is a 70 question cross over with a rules of the road and possibly flashing light. If not I guess you will have to take the entire test all over again. The reason I think you will have to take the entire test all over again is because the CFR reads holder of 2nd Mate or Chief Mate. Since you are not getting the required tonnage to automatically upgrade you 3rd mate you will have to test just like an applicant that has a 1600 ton mate. If I am wrong hopefully someone here will correct me. Good Luck.
I don’t think it’s 2 years as a mate. You only need 360 days of seatime as 3/m to upgrade to 2/m, and when you upgrade, you’re eligible to take that 70 question test Capt. Lee is talking about. Flashing light will be needed since it is required for all upgrades. There’s some date (I think it was 2003 or 2004? could be wrong) where you don’t have to take the 2/m test - you already took it when you got your 3/m, and with the seatime, there’s no test to upgrade, but still need flashing light.
In reading the CFR that Capt. Lee posted, my take is this - it says “…holding a license as chief mate or second mate…” - maybe it’s that when you upgrade, you then hold a 2/m, and are then eligible to take the “limited examination”? Sort of seems to make sense, at least to me.
[quote=New3M;11985]I don’t think it’s 2 years as a mate. You only need 360 days of seatime as 3/m to upgrade to 2/m, and when you upgrade, you’re eligible to take that 70 question test Capt. Lee is talking about. Flashing light will be needed since it is required for all upgrades. There’s some date (I think it was 2003 or 2004? could be wrong) where you don’t have to take the 2/m test - you already took it when you got your 3/m, and with the seatime, there’s no test to upgrade, but still need flashing light.
In reading the CFR that Capt. Lee posted, my take is this - it says “…holding a license as chief mate or second mate…” - maybe it’s that when you upgrade, you then hold a 2/m, and are then eligible to take the “limited examination”? Sort of seems to make sense, at least to me.[/quote]
That’s the thing…He can not upgrade without the proper tonnage. His case is beginning to be more common as the tug companies are recruiting from the Academies. He could have 20 years on a vessel under 1600 tons and not be able to do his upgrade to 2nd Mate without the tonnage. I am pretty sure he is under the new system for not having to test for third mate. The new system started in 2002. For that reason I am thinking he needs the two years as Mate before sitting for the 1600 Master or he can go on a vessel over 1600 tons and get a year of sea time to upgrade to his 2nd Mate and then take the 70 question crossover with the Visual Comm’s Certificate. I hope Jim will chime in on this one, but I think I am right for a change
Ohhh of course I forgot about the tug part. I’d have to say you’re right as well.
Capt Lee, I think your interpretation sounds pretty good. The only question I would have is whether the Coast Guard will require evidence of that 4 years of experience. The 2 years as a mate on the tugs is easy, but what about the sea time I earned at the school. Is my Third Mate license going to be sufficient evidence for that time?
I would guess no - you were a cadet earning that seatime for the 3/M. In looking at the requirements, it says 2 years as a mate.
No you don’t have to show the entire 4 years… I have upgraded from cabin boy to 2nd Mate the hard way. 100 ton, 500 ton, MOTV, 1600 Ton, etc. At each one it is understood you had to get so many days to get the current license you already have. Also, they can check all your sea service that has already been sent in. Showing the 2 years would be what they need and your money.
Sounds good. Thanks for the help everyone.
The only Requirements for Ocean endorsement on Master of towing license is 30 days and a TOAR
[QUOTE=Sam;32297]The only Requirements for Ocean endorsement on Master of towing license is 30 days and a TOAR[/QUOTE]
What are you referring to? This guy already has a toar (or at least has been previously sailing as mate?) He wants to upgrade his license to 1600 ton master. This has NOTHING to do with a toar.
Hi I am kinda on the same boat I already have my sea time to upgrade from 3rd mate to second mate, I work on supply boats they are 2996 GT do you know if that qualifies for unlimited tonnage 2nd mate. My other question is on that flashing light I have taken already flashing light twice in the past my most recent one was in oct 08 can I just send that one in with my application? Do they make you take a flashing light examination at the rec?, or that is only for the application checklist? Does anyone know?
hey third mate, on the flashing light question,I think you need to take it for all upgrades on higher licenses. also I read somewhere that REC’s dont give the exam anymore,you have to find a Coast Guard approved course to take. Am I right guy’s and Gal’s? Maybe I answered one of your questions.
At this time. You have to have it within a year for all upgrades 500 tons or greater.
After the new changes are implemented, you will need for every license and every upgrade >100 tons if you want to go past the sea buoy (Line of Demarcation).
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I have been searching for answers to my questions and this thread is as close as I can manage to find so I am hoping to get some finer clarification.
I will have a 3rd mate oceans AGT with a 1600 ton restriction due to the fact that I sail on vessels between 200 & 1600, and these vessels only work a two watch system (no third mate). I have not inquired but I assume my seatime would be written as mate NC. Now, if I was going to go for my 2nd mate/1600 ton master, would my seatime be accepted since I will not truly be serving as a third? Also, would I be able to take the crossover exam for the 1600 master since I would have a tonnage restriction on my 2nd? Trying to plan ahead in case I need to look for some bigger tonnage.
I agree with Capt. Lee and the 2 years sea time as mate to meet the requirement. Having known people in the similar situations, believe you would be required to take the 6 or 7 section test.
I think that I have found enough info to answer my own question. 1. I can get my 2nd by sailing as an OICNW while [I]holding[/I] a 3rd, not necessarily sailing as one. 2. I can get my 1600 Masters after I get my 2nd, with a limited test, only if the restriction on my 2nd is 1600 or more.
I think as it stands now I would be closer to the 1000 restriction than the 1600. Which by-the-way, seems to jog my memory that the STCW 95 had some verbage to the effect that the minimum tonnage a 3rd would be issued with would be 2000??? Anyone know off the top of their head if that is ITC or GRT? Any word on when they might pull the trigger on the 95 stuff or will they wait until the Manila amendments come out and combine the whole works?