Able Seafarer - Deck national crossover question

Maritime Topics Maritime Training & Licensing
1

A bit confused here reading NVIC 14 - 14 https://www.uscg.mil/nmc/regulations/NVIC/NVIC_2014/nvic_14-14_able_seafarer-deck-signed_28apr14.pdf

Enclosure (1) - 2. Sea Service Requirements

b.
Mariners holding a rating endorsement as able seaman before January 1, 2017, will be
eligible for this endorsement if they:
1)
Hold an endorsement as RFPNW and have
completed approved training for PSC or
PSC-Limited (46 CFR 12.603©); and
2)
Have currently valid Basic Training (46 CFR 12.602).
c.
Mariners may qualify for an endorsement as AS-D until January 1, 2017
, if they have:
1)
Served as a watchstanding Able Seaman, or
as a RFPNW for a period of not less than
12 months within the 60 months prior to
application for the endorsement (46 CFR
12.603(b)); and
2)
Currently valid Basic Training (46 CFR 12.602).

I am mostly interested in the wording here under b. - BEFORE January 1, 2017.
How does this translate to real life? I can have [U]any[/U] AB rating and provided that I send in my RFPNW endorsement (and comply with the rest), I would be eligible for Able Seafarer Deck? If that’s the case, would everything have to be sent in before january 1 or is it just necessary to hold the rating of a national AB - before january 1, 2017, and the rest can be done after?

If you go to STCW Able - Seafarer Deck checklist, it gets even a little more confusing, especially the last page- National Crossover

I think I get it, but unfortunately “I think” doesn’t work, I need to be sure exactly what to do and unfortunately NMC call center is no help- they have given me polarizing and different answers each time I have called and the local REC was even worse as they openly admitted they had no idea.
Any insights here?

2

Dec 31, 2016 is the deadline. After that you need to use the new scheme.

3

Hello!

I read the NVIC and checklists as there are three situations:

  1. you’ve been a watchstanding AB, you can apply for an ASD endorsement with no additional classes, BUT you must apply prior to Jan 1 2017 AND you’ll get RFPNW as a bonus

2)you missed that deadline, but you had a AB ticket before Jan 1 2017, you can get an ASD endorsement but you have to have RFPNW and PSC/lifeboatman

  1. you weren’t an AB prior to Jan 1 2017, after jan 1 you’ll need seatime, Basic Training, PSC/Lifeboatman and the 64 assessments

Hope this helps. Please feel free to PM me if you have any further questions.
B/R
Christine Klimkowski
MITAGS-PMI