Assessing RFPNW need some guidance

I am currently helping assess a o/s I have worked with for a year now with his RFPNW. The assessments are not the problem. It is a particular document that has been sent to him from the NMC. It is a record of sea service while in training for qualification as rating forming part of a navigational watch. My question is why must this document be filled out? Why would a company sea service form not work in place of this document? Also would a simulator class bypass all this and let him get RFPNW on his STCW so he can start making A/B pay?

[QUOTE=orangejulius;66065]I am currently helping assess a o/s I have worked with for a year now with his RFPNW. The assessments are not the problem. It is a particular document that has been sent to him from the NMC. It is a record of sea service while in training for qualification as rating forming part of a navigational watch. My question is why must this document be filled out? Why would a company sea service form not work in place of this document? Also would a simulator class bypass all this and let him get RFPNW on his STCW so he can start making A/B pay?[/QUOTE]

You are not required to use that document. We cannot compel the use of a specific document unless it is an approved (by the Office of Management and Budget) “form.” The credential application is suuch a form. As the RFPNW document is not a form, you can use any alternative that provides the same information. In this instance, it would be evidence that the mariner has seagoing service of at least six months, and the service was associated with navigational watchkeeping functions. See STCW Regulation II/4, incorporated by reference in 46 CFR 12.05-3©.

A simulator class is generally used to conduct assessments. It does not change the sea service requirements for RFPNW.

SO our company sea service form will work? What exactly must it say? Is the boat name, official number, and tonage plus his days on such boat sufficient? Or is there more that needs to be stated. Also JD you are a lifesaver to this forum and I much appreciate the speedy response.

[QUOTE=orangejulius;66069]SO our company sea service form will work? What exactly must it say? Is the boat name, official number, and tonage plus his days on such boat sufficient? Or is there more that needs to be stated. Also JD you are a lifesaver to this forum and I much appreciate the speedy response.[/QUOTE]

A general sea service form does generally not provide the specific information required to document RFNPW. If your company refuses to use the CG provided format, make sure the letter includes all the information that would normally be on the form. One additional point, the form provided by the Coast Guard only requires the licensed officers who are certifying your training to sign them, so you really don’t need to worry about getting a company or HR signature on it.

I wonder if I can get the RFPNW on a foreign flag vessel. I did the assessements but the CG told me I had to be on vessels 200 tons or higher, nowadays I´m on a 498 ton Brazilian flag tug but I am running her under a Brazilan license.

Long live the Gcaptain forum!

Need to show 8 hours of bridge watchstanding each day of sea credit used for RFPNW. Check this out as a good reference: http://www.msc.navy.mil/civmar/training/RFPNW-Nov10.pdf
page 98 starts the watch sign-off log.

[QUOTE=orangejulius;66069]SO our company sea service form will work? What exactly must it say? Is the boat name, official number, and tonage plus his days on such boat sufficient? Or is there more that needs to be stated. Also JD you are a lifesaver to this forum and I much appreciate the speedy response.[/QUOTE]

OrangeJulius, when I submitted my application for RFPNW I had the company write a sea service letter using the exact wording that is spelled out in policy letter 14-02 and that did not fly, the NMC wanted actual dates of the training, vessels etc…

.I dont remember how it came about , but somehow they sent a different form to me and this one allowed you to bracket the dates when the training occurred …For example you could put down that training took place between Jan /01 / 2009 -August /01 / 2009 = 100 days…Why this was acceptable I have no idea but it worked…I will look for this form for you …

[QUOTE=tugboat4life68;66128]I wonder if I can get the RFPNW on a foreign flag vessel. I did the assessements but the CG told me I had to be on vessels 200 tons or higher, nowadays I´m on a 498 ton Brazilian flag tug but I am running her under a Brazilan license.

Long live the Gcaptain forum![/QUOTE]

This has been a problem in the past. The USCG has no ability to take Suspension and Revocation action against a person serving on a non-US flag vessel that pencil whips service or assessments and as such has made the NMC not accept them back in the early days of STCW…

Jim - What is the current NMC/USCG view on foreign service and assessments for an STCW endorsement?

But pencil whips happens even on US flag vessels my friend! I know a few people that got the TOAR done in such manner.

Is there a offical spreedsheet of sea service record keeping? I have seen the MSC “workbook”. I have also found this form http://www.columbiapacificmaritime.com/files/RFPNW-seaservice.pdf Me in a buddy are in the same boat with the company letter not being accecpted. Trying to get it right this time.

JMad that’s the same the form the cg sent me yesterday

I dont remember how it came about