I’m considering working for American Cruise Lines as an unlicensed engineer. It’s not the best job, but I would like to get my QMED (oiler and maybe electrician).
Is the seatime/enginetime I’d get on inland river vessels valid?
Is the job worth it since people have pretty bad experiences working for ACL?
I’m looking at this job because I haven’t found great entry level opportunities for a wiper.
Thanks.
Take the job. You’ll get experience and seatime.
As I understand it, as long as it’s a “walk in” engineroom and it’s over 1000hp (seems like it should be), the time will count. The tonnage of the vessel and the location shouldn’t matter for QMED endorsements.
That said, I’m a Master, not an engineer, and it’s been many years since I sailed as a wiper or unlicensed engineer.
Recently. on a coastwise 99 ton tug with 3950hp, the engineers were getting, QMED endorsements, and DDE 4000 and DDE Unlimited licenses. They could not get 3AE unlimited because the vessel was under 4000hp.
with NOAA I always sailed one grade higher than I held, that includes 3AE with a Jr. Eng. ticket. and it was 3,000 HP. just avoid the DDE route!