[QUOTE=tugsailor;71190]
I certainly understand Cappy’s point about the office sending an unqualified mate that had little seagoing and no towing experience at all (typically recent academy grads). You just have to hope that you have a good AB or engineer to help you keep an eye on them. And you have to put in a lot of hours in confined waters with traffic. Then again. I’ve had mates that were better than I was.
I understand that in some places the custom is that the mate is a “2nd Captain” who is expected to run his own watch as he sees fit and not bother the master while he is off watch. Obviously that works for companies who have been doing it forever, but it requires a mate who is fully qualified as a captain.
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I agree that Cappy is making valid points also, I worked the port/stbd 6 hr watch system as well. Eventually I reached a point where the captain and I could operate the vessel 24 hrs. I ran it for 12 hrs and he ran it for 12 but the ship was simple to operate and the run was Seattle to Alaska. Same operation each time more or less.
Towing of course is another matter as more proficiency is required dealing with the barge in confined waters.
K.C.