Convince me to go for 3rd mate unlimited

Professional Mariner Forum
1

I have my 200 ton mates, 100 ton masters and will soon be receiving my apprentice mate steersman. At the very least I plan on being able to work as a mate on tugs in the future.

I’m considering going for my 1600 to make ATBs a possibility as well (that’s necessary right?) but the mate on my boat is telling me that the exams for the 1600 and 3M unlimited are nearly identical and if I’m gonna go for either one I may as well go for 3M.

Is this true? Are they really that similar?

Also please send absolutely any study advice you may have (preferably from those who have hawsepiped themselves).

I’m currently studying Deck gen/ nav gen questions on Seatrials. Soon I will start getting into chart plotting/ math with the practical navigator courses online.

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Always go for the biggest license you can get. Opens up more opportunities and most likely more doors too.

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I second New3M. Time is going to go by anyways so might as well go the extra mile and get the bigger license, even if there’s extra hoops.

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I recommend that you look at 46 CFR 11.910 table 2 which will provide you with the answer to your question. Second Mate/Third Mate, oceans/near-coastal, unlimited tonnage, and Mate less than 500 GRT and less than 1600 GRT, oceans/near-coastal. Note the examination subjects and topics.

Then take a look at the NMC Sample Exams look at each license to identify where certain subjects and topics that are crossover in the various exam modules.e.g. Distance Off Problems.

Last, I recommend reviewing the style of questions that represent the subject or topic being examined.

5

Don’t.

Get a shore job.

Have a proper life.

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Always go the biggest you can, when you can.

Even if you decide to stay on a less than 200 grt tugboat, its always great to have options.

I haven’t done a deck license upgrade since 2012, but lapware, marineradvancement and the capt Joe cd (I believe its a thumb drive now) were all huge help for me.

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19 posts were split to a new topic: More MMP/AMO BS

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Are you sure you didn’t mean Convince me NOT to go for 3rd Mate Unlimited…?

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I’m an engineer but when I was going for my 3rd A/E I also took the DDE Any HP because they were the same seatime requirements. Friends of mine did not. It has come in handy to have the DDE and opened up some opportunities I wouldn’t have gotten without. Also, some HR people have really liked that I had both.

Go for both. You’ll most likely never go back to get the one you didn’t take, no matter what you tell yourself.

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If you do the 1600 exam you might not need to do the oceans exam portion if you just want to do tugs/ATBs etc. For the 3m you will have to take the oceans most likely or it’s kinda useless not too bc there aren’t that many unlimited near coastal ships. Also check with the national maritime center you might need higher tonnage seatime in order to test for the 3m

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He’s not gettting unlimited period , doesn’t have time on vessels over 1600.. don’t get his hopes up.

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Or the just take the 1600, you can go 1600

Mate to 3m with no testing but it’s not going to be unlimited

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Study Advice based on the OP – Code of Federal Regulations

My first tip starts by using the CFR’s to determine what are the requirements for a specific endorsement or license. You need to do your own research as to exactly what you qualify for and what documents are required to support your application request.

Then expand your regulatory investigation to the requirements that are required for your specific vessel during a Certificate of Inspection renewal. CG-840 Inspection Books

To assist you, I also recommend looking at Towing Vessel National Center of Expertise (TVNCOE) which highlights Subchapter C, I, M and notice the specific subchapter operational requirements. This will give you a basic understanding and foundation of a CFR structure and layout.

Spend time on additional regulations that extend beyond just towing vessels. e.g. Vessel equipment, Documentation, Drug & Alcohol Test, FCC, Lifesaving Part 199, Manning & Watches, Marine Casualty, Marine Sanitation Devices, Merchant Mariner Credentialing, MTSA, Navigation Publication, Oil Pollution and etc.. which are also located on this website.

Once you are familiar with the regulation locations then spend time looking various CFR exam questions and their structure to finding the appropriate citing in the CFR’s.

As to a formal style of maintenance plan for vessels consider looking at USCG Streamlined Inspection Program

This familiarization process should provide some ability to address those examination question found in each potential deck examination.

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Study Advice based on OP – Scientific Calculators

This tip focuses on selecting and using an acceptable exam room scientific calculator. I believe you will find that you will need time to become familiar with the input requirements for the calculator you have selected.

For this discussion, I will take a moment to focus on two possible calculator choices the TI 30Xa and the TI 30X II. Each calculator has a different processing system. The TI 30xa uses an algebraic operating system and the TI 30x II uses an equation operating system.

Why does this matter? Simply the input of a marine mathematical formula has different input sequence based on the calculator being used.

I will utilize the visibility of a light geographic and luminous range problems to illustrate the process. This style of problems maybe encountered in Navigation General, Navigation Problems and Chart Plotting.

Consider the navigational formula for geographic range of a light found in Bowditch Volume II, 2019 Ed, Explanation of Table 13, page 4.

Geographic Range = 1.17√(HE) + 1.17√(HO)

HE = Height of Eye of the vessel

HO = Height of Object being observed.

What is the approximate geographic range of Shinnecock Light, NY, if your height of eye is 24 feet (7.3 meters)? Refer to “Reprints from the LIGHT LISTS AND COAST PILOTS”. (Ref# 680 – 75 feet) Ans: 15.9nm

Formula Sequence:

Geographic Range = 1.17√24 + 1.17√ 75 = 15.86

TI 30 Xa Calculator Key Sequence: Follows Mathematical process [PEMDAS].

Geographic Range = 24√ x 1.17 = Ans (5.73) + 75 √ x 1.17 = 15.8643

TI 30X II Calculator Key Sequence will follow the formula sequence. Close all parentheses before continuing with other operations.

Geographic Range = 1.17√(24) + 1.17√(75) = 15.8643

The Light List shows that a navigational light has a nominal range of 12 miles and a height above water of 25 feet (7.6 meters). Your height of eye is 38 feet (11.6 meters) and the visibility is 5.5 miles. At what approximate range will you FIRST sight the light? USCG Ans: 8.0 miles

Formula Sequence:

Luminous Range = (vis/10 x Nominal Range) +1

TI 30 Xa Calculator Key Sequence: Follows Mathematical process [PEMDAS]. Use parentheses and close before continuing with other operations

Luminous Range = (5.5/10 x 12 NM) +1 = 7.6 nm

TI 30X II Calculator Key Sequence will follow the formula sequence. Close all parentheses before continuing with other operations.

Luminous Range = (5.5/10 x 12 NM) +1 = 7.6 nm

I hope this helps.

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I have to agree. Check your Seatime. I got a 3rd mate. But because of my tonnage time it is restricted to 2000tons. That being said if you get a restriction then sail on 1600 ton boats as Master for 180 you get it removed. Or sail as an AB on unlimited boats for a year and get it removed.

But go big for sure.

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Convince yourself dude. Don’t rely on a bunch of keyboard warriors that hide their name to make your career decisions for you.

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For the testing, go for it. However you’ll need tonnage. No way around that. I started with a 50GRT, test & seatime to 200GRT-O, test & seatime on bigger vessel to 1600GRT,-O, seatime on bigger vessel 3/M 3000GRT, 3/M 6000GRT, went to MSC to get on vessels above 10k GRT. Got the restriction removed, so 3/M UNL, seatime to 2/M-O. Took the C/M - Master test, failed the first time, then passed on the second try. Currently have a Master unlimited-O. Now I’m adding endorsements like Polar Code and passed the pilotage for chart 25670. Still memorizing other charts to get those endorsements. Never limit yourself. I had a captain that told me he regretted not upgrading his license when he had the chance. He sat on a 100GRT for 30 years, till the company said that he had to upgrade since they were selling the 100GRT boats as bigger boats were profitable. So you can imagine at his age trying to study again, it took him a while but he did it. A

I started this career late in life was a biologist for 12 years, but it is doable. You just have to commit and don’t look back…

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You might as well so you’re not restricted.

Want to do a Seattle to Hawaii tow? Better have oceans. Jacksonville to Puerto Rico (or anywhere else in the Caribbean)? You’ll need oceans. Tow from one US coast to the other US coast? Need oceans.

You’ll also need STCW OICNW for all of those routes so get that too.

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Your Mom named you ItsJody? I’d be pissed at the world too…

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You really got me slick….

I also hide my name and am a keyboard warrior.

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