Another TOAR question

Should I start working on the assessments for my TOAR now? I currently hold a 50 ton master inland credential and will soon have my 100 ton master inland credential. I work on the deck of a tug and could get many of the assessments signed off. I’m just not sure if there is a time frame where these signed off assessments will run out? I plan to continue with my license upgrades but it will take some time to take all of the classes.

I searched the threads but didn’t find the answer to this question. Thanks for the replies…

[QUOTE=RobLinscott;101042]Should I start working on the assessments for my TOAR now? I currently hold a 50 ton master inland credential and will soon have my 100 ton master inland credential. I work on the deck of a tug and could get many of the assessments signed off. I’m just not sure if there is a time frame where these signed off assessments will run out? I plan to continue with my license upgrades but it will take some time to take all of the classes.

I searched the threads but didn’t find the answer to this question. Thanks for the replies…[/QUOTE]
The answers ARE on here. You just have to look harder for them. (and accept the answers given even if you don’t like them)

The short reply is: You must be working with a USCG certfied Designated Examiner (DE) to be able to get signed off. Just anyone can’t do it. (Well, they can do it, but it won’t be worth anything as far as the CG i concerned) Your next license must be an ‘Apprentice Steersman’ endorsement. That will get you a valid towing license to go with the toar.

Thank you for your reply. I did know that I needed to have a DE to sign off on my TOAR (which my current captain is). I just looked up the requirements for the “Apprentice Steersman” and see that I need more sea time to get that credential. Thanks again.

[QUOTE=RobLinscott;101138]Thank you for your reply. I did know that I needed to have a DE to sign off on my TOAR (which my current captain is). I just looked up the requirements for the “Apprentice Steersman” and see that I need more sea time to get that credential. Thanks again.[/QUOTE]

How much time do you have as Master under your 50 GRT license? If you have 3 years you can get mate of towing vessels by completing a TOAR and a [U]minimum [/U]of 30 days on a towing vessel.

I only have 9 months under my 50 GRT license so that wouldn’t work for me. Thanks for the information though.

The company that I work for now requires all of their prospective wheelhouse personnel to also have a tankerman PIC ticket before they can start steering. I have taken the tankerman class and only have the advanced fire fighting class left to take. I’m slowly getting there but everything seems to take so much time. I wish that I had gone to an academy after I had graduated years ago.

[QUOTE=jdcavo;101162]How much time do you have as Master under your 50 GRT license? If you have 3 years you can get mate of towing vessels by completing a TOAR and a [U]minimum [/U]of 30 days on a towing vessel.[/QUOTE]

James,

I’ve always wondered why the requirements to get a towing endorsement seem so drawn out. It seems as if there is a declining amount of mariners with the towing endorsement because the new crop isn’t willing to put in the time when they can simply go on a big OSV and move up the ladder much quicker. These guys work on a tug for years making minimal money (in the big scheme of things)to finally get a towing endorsement when they could hold a much bigger license on an OSV and making twice the money. Do you know any of the logic put into this other than the obvious such as the manueving with significant length of tow, etc… vs navigating a 300’ OSV?

Complete your TOAR and test for your mate 1600. Thats the best way in my opinion. Also start on your TOAR Now, it took me a year to complete mine.

[QUOTE=RobLinscott;101170]I only have 9 months under my 50 GRT license so that wouldn’t work for me. Thanks for the information though.

The company that I work for now requires all of their prospective wheelhouse personnel to also have a tankerman PIC ticket before they can start steering. I have taken the tankerman class and only have the advanced fire fighting class left to take. I’m slowly getting there but everything seems to take so much time. I wish that I had gone to an academy after I had graduated years ago.[/QUOTE]

You don’t need advanced fire fighting for a tankerman endorsement. Basic is sufficient.

[QUOTE=Saltine;101196]James,

I’ve always wondered why the requirements to get a towing endorsement seem so drawn out. It seems as if there is a declining amount of mariners with the towing endorsement because the new crop isn’t willing to put in the time when they can simply go on a big OSV and move up the ladder much quicker. These guys work on a tug for years making minimal money (in the big scheme of things)to finally get a towing endorsement when they could hold a much bigger license on an OSV and making twice the money. Do you know any of the logic put into this other than the obvious such as the manueving with significant length of tow, etc… vs navigating a 300’ OSV?[/QUOTE]

Slioghtly before my time with the USCG. It was a response to the Bayou Canot T/V Mauvilla casualty.