New to the forum and have spent a lot of time reading and learning as much as I can. I’m still somewhat confused about a lot of things but the more I read, the more it’s beginning to make sense. I spent four years in the navy aboard the USS Nassau and as a result, I’ve been told that I already qualify for AB unlimited. Now I know that in order for me to that qual, I am going to need to take a few classes. My question is, should I try and get hired as on OS( spoke with Laverne at ECO yesterday and she said they would be hiring OS middle of February) and go to school through the company that hires me, or should I go ahead and take the classes now and try and get hired with an AB unlimited qual?
Ugh…get the AB ticket and sail as an ordinary?
[QUOTE=Shotgunwillie;128775]New to the forum and have spent a lot of time reading and learning as much as I can. I’m still somewhat confused about a lot of things but the more I read, the more it’s beginning to make sense. I spent four years in the navy aboard the USS Nassau and as a result, I’ve been told that I already qualify for AB unlimited. Now I know that in order for me to that qual, I am going to need to take a few classes. My question is, should I try and get hired as on OS( spoke with Laverne at ECO yesterday and she said they would be hiring OS middle of February) and go to school through the company that hires me, or should I go ahead and take the classes now and try and get hired with an AB unlimited qual?[/QUOTE]
My two cents worth. Go take the class. It’s only a week and a few dollars. Get the AB in hand ASAP
[QUOTE=tugsailor;128783]My two cents worth. Go take the class. It’s only a week and a few dollars. Get the AB in hand ASAP[/QUOTE]
I agree, this is the right course of action to take. There’s no sense in looking for shortcuts in this industry. Take the time, spend the money, and get the better job because of it. In the long-run balance you’ll end up ahead of where you’d otherwise be.
[QUOTE=Shotgunwillie;128775]New to the forum and have spent a lot of time reading and learning as much as I can. I’m still somewhat confused about a lot of things but the more I read, the more it’s beginning to make sense. I spent four years in the navy aboard the USS Nassau and as a result, I’ve been told that I already qualify for AB unlimited. Now I know that in order for me to that qual, I am going to need to take a few classes. My question is, should I try and get hired as on OS( spoke with Laverne at ECO yesterday and she said they would be hiring OS middle of February) and go to school through the company that hires me, or should I go ahead and take the classes now and try and get hired with an AB unlimited qual?[/QUOTE]
I’m not sure you will qualify for AB-Unlimited. That requires a total of three years of service. Military time is credited at 70%, so even if all four years were acceptable, when the discount is applied you may come up a little short. If you’re short of the time for AB-Unlimited, you may qualify for AB-Limited, that takes 18 months of service.
[QUOTE=jdcavo;128792]I’m not sure you will qualify for AB-Unlimited. That requires a total of three years of service. Military time is credited at 70%, so even if all four years were acceptable, when the discount is applied you may come up a little short. If you’re short of the time for AB-Unlimited, you may qualify for AB-Limited, that takes 18 months of service.[/QUOTE]
AB-Limited doesn’t necessarily have to be a dirty word though. There are plenty of inland, near coastal, and OSV jobs that AB-Limited is more than enough coverage for. The other bit of good news is that even as an AB-Limited you can still work on an unlimited-tonnage vessel as long as the total number of limited AB’s doesn’t surpass a certain percentage of the total required amount (I forget what the number is, I think it’s like 25-50%, or something like that). Unfortunately I don’t know what the CFR citation is for that and I honestly don’t remember where I read it but I’m pretty sure that’s right. Maybe J.D. Cavo can shed a little more light on that exception.
Thanks for taking the time to reply yall. At 70% with four years of service that’s 1022 days. So, you are correct sir. 58 days from AB unlimited! Damn. Well, after learning that are the classes and quals for AB unlimited the same as AB limited? Meaning if I take the courses and work as an AB limited, in 58 days can I submit for AB unlimited without having to take more courses? I know some of you salty dogs on here are reading these questions and probably thinking what a noob! So thanks again for taking the time to help guide me. It’s very much appreciated. What’s the difference between limited and unlimited if I can still work on a ship of any tonnage with limited?
[QUOTE=Shotgunwillie;128801]Thanks for taking the time to reply yall. At 70% with four years of service that’s 1022 days. So, you are correct sir. 58 days from AB unlimited! Damn. Well, after learning that are the classes and quals for AB unlimited the same as AB limited? Meaning if I take the courses and work as an AB limited, in 58 days can I submit for AB unlimited without having to take more courses? I know some of you salty dogs on here are reading these questions and probably thinking what a noob! So thanks again for taking the time to help guide me. It’s very much appreciated. What’s the difference between limited and unlimited if I can still work on a ship of any tonnage with limited?[/QUOTE]
Unlimited speaks for itself, limited is 1600-tons, special is 500-tons. Because AB is a rating and not an officer rank the percentage exception is granted because the ship won’t be at a huge loss with ratings of a lesser tonnage. The tonnage really makes a bigger difference with the officers.
[QUOTE=Shotgunwillie;128801]Thanks for taking the time to reply yall. At 70% with four years of service that’s 1022 days. So, you are correct sir. 58 days from AB unlimited! Damn. Well, after learning that are the classes and quals for AB unlimited the same as AB limited? Meaning if I take the courses and work as an AB limited, in 58 days can I submit for AB unlimited without having to take more courses? I know some of you salty dogs on here are reading these questions and probably thinking what a noob! So thanks again for taking the time to help guide me. It’s very much appreciated. What’s the difference between limited and unlimited if I can still work on a ship of any tonnage with limited?[/QUOTE]
If there is anything to learn here, it’s not to assume anything about what the uscg is going to give you. Mr Cavio obviously knows his business, but unless he specifically is handling your application, then things can be quite unpredictable getting papers coming from outside the industry. Make no mistake about that, the navy is nothing like shipping.
One question, what was your billet or MOS in the navy?
[QUOTE=Johnny Canal;128806]If there is anything to learn here, it’s not to assume anything about what the uscg is going to give you. Mr Cavio obviously knows his business, but unless he specifically is handling your application, then things can be quite unpredictable getting papers coming from outside the industry. Make no mistake about that, the navy is nothing like shipping.
One question, what was your billet or MOS in the navy?[/QUOTE]
My rate coming into the navy through boot camp was FC, fire control man, left a-school as boatswain mate. Made BM3 and discharged as a logistic specialist. You’re right about not assuming things, however I trust and have full confidence in the woman helping me get my paper work in order. She’s got over 27 years of experience in the industry. You say that shipping is nothing like the navy. In what way? As far as I’ve read, it seems like the seamanship, firefighting, damage control and things of that nature are very similar. Hope I don’t come off arrogant or like I’m claiming to know everything because I certainly don’t, I’m curious and would like to go into my first job with as much knowledge as possible.
As Johnny Canal asked your rate will determine how much the USCG credits you. ALSO no matter what, get lookout qualified before you get out. Turn that into the USCG and ask for RFPNW. They added that to my MMC just for asking. You will also have to fill out a sf-180 and send it off. This takes about 3 months. This is all the stuff I did or hired someone to do actually. Things could have changed that was 5 years ago.
Like stated up above. Go to the class, it’s only a week long and cost around $800 (Use your GI bill) Difference between OS and AB pay is around $75 a day depending on where you work. You will make that back in one pay check.
Send it to the USCG and see what they agree to or overlook. Double check on using your time on AB limited when you are only 58 days short of an unlimited. I’d have to look it up but there is something about once you use your days you can’t use them again. Not for sure if it pertains to the AB or not. I’ve met guys that have an AB unlimited and all their sea time is on OSV’s. I think it really only matters on how many sea days you have.
I’ll shoot you some PM’s also. Some things I just don’t want to publish in a public forum.
Good luck and Thanks for serving!!
[QUOTE=AB Murph;128816]Double check on using your time on AB limited when you are only 58 days short of an unlimited. I’d have to look it up but there is something about once you use your days you can’t use them again. Not for sure if it pertains to the AB or not.[/QUOTE]
They don’t make you go back to the beginning every time you get a new license or renew, upgrade etc… You might need to get a metric butt-ton more each time you upgrade but that’s not for the sake of starting from the beginning, that’s to get from the amount one license requires to the amount the next higher license requires. If you use your 1022 days to get an AB-limited once you get to 1080 there is no reason at all that the USCG would not give you a AB-Unlimited. I’m sure J.D. Cavo could shed more light on this but I’m pretty sure that that is the case.
[QUOTE=AB Murph;128816]Thanks for serving!![/QUOTE]
Thanks for reminding me, I forgot to mention that earlier. THANK YOU for serving, Shotgunwillie, and for joining our industry after doing so. You are MORE THAN WELCOME here and we’re very happy to have you.
[QUOTE=PaddyWest2012;128817]They don’t make you go back to the beginning every time you get a new license or renew, upgrade etc… You might need to get a metric butt-ton more each time you upgrade but that’s not for the sake of starting from the beginning, that’s to get from the amount one license requires to the amount the next higher license requires. If you use your 1022 days to get an AB-limited once you get to 1080 there is no reason at all that the USCG would not give you a AB-Unlimited.[/QUOTE]
That’s what I was thinking but have no clue where the can’t use it but once thing comes from. I look at it as, what does it matter unless I’m changing from Eng. room to Deck.
[QUOTE=Shotgunwillie;128801]Thanks for taking the time to reply yall. At 70% with four years of service that’s 1022 days. So, you are correct sir. 58 days from AB unlimited! Damn. Well, after learning that are the classes and quals for AB unlimited the same as AB limited? Meaning if I take the courses and work as an AB limited, in 58 days can I submit for AB unlimited without having to take more courses? I know some of you salty dogs on here are reading these questions and probably thinking what a noob! So thanks again for taking the time to help guide me. It’s very much appreciated. What’s the difference between limited and unlimited if I can still work on a ship of any tonnage with limited?[/QUOTE]
The only difference between AB Unlimited and Limited is the sea time. The exam is the same (or a class if you take that instead of the exam) and once you have AB-Limited you can go to AB Unlimited with just the sea time, no additional classes or exams.
You can work on the same vessels, ut as noted, there is a limit on how many AB-Limited can be carried at a time.
[QUOTE=AB Murph;128816]Double check on using your time on AB limited when you are only 58 days short of an unlimited. I’d have to look it up but there is something about once you use your days you can’t use them again. .[/QUOTE]
There isn’t, and this applies to all endorsements. The distinction is how the service requirement for the endorsemert you are applying for is worded. Most, including all AB endorsements, call for TOTAL service. If so, you can re-use any service you have that mneets the oither criteria such as tonnage. The only exception is when the service requirement specifies the time has to be in a certain capacity or while holding another endorsement. for example, 2nd mater unlimited requires time while holding 3rd mate. so in that case, you can’t re-use time you used to get your 3rd mate, because you didn’t yet hold 3rd mater when you got the time.
Time used to get AB-Limited can also be used to raise the grade to unlimited.
man fuuuuuck that
I never believed what others told me but I have my AB unlimited and am currently down in Louisiana searching. I don’t have RFPNW and would have had jobs with both Hornbeck and ECO the day I walked in. So just be prepared to only be considered for OS positions if you do not have RFPNW.
[QUOTE=Enarubin;128840]I never believed what others told me but I have my AB unlimited and am currently down in Louisiana searching. I don’t have RFPNW and would have had jobs with both Hornbeck and ECO the day I walked in. So just be prepared to only be considered for OS positions if you do not have RFPNW.[/QUOTE]
please explain that to me. Doesn’t it take a couple of years of sea time to qualify for AB unl.?
if so, how are you not able to stand bridge watch as lookout/helmsman by that point? Did you get that time on ships or oil patch?
Because none of my time in the past was ever over 200grt. You can have all the check offs and blah blah blah done but you need 90 days over 200grt.
[QUOTE=Enarubin;128852]Because none of my time in the past was ever over 200grt. You can have all the check offs and blah blah blah done but you need 90 days over 200grt.[/QUOTE]
Check up on that just to be sure. After March 24th the minimum tonnage for unlimited endorsements is supposed to go from 200-GRT to 100-GRT, I don’t know how this will affect ratings but I know that is the case for officer endorsements. This change was discussed at length in the STCW changes thread that was on here just a matter of weeks ago. My suggestion would be to use the search function, go back and find the one or two threads that were all about the upcoming changes to STCW and see what was said about going from 200-GRT to 100-GRT.
Good luck!