anchorman,<br><br>Did you get my question about MITAGS? I figure I can just ask you while you are here.<br>Thanks, minnisupplyman
MSM,<br><br>Check out the website for Mitags, it should provide you with all the info that you are looking for.<br><br>www.mitags.org <br><br>
Thanks!
MITAGS is a maritime school in Maryland. They are MMP’s school for management level courses for unlimited tonnage chief mate’s and masters. They also train bar pilots and others under contract. Most mariners that go there consider the 1,600 ton master too small for their trade so I figured that you didn’t really need to hear that with your sights on the 500ton master…which might cover their fast rescue craft and lifeboats.<br><br>You seem to have the drive that most lack, but I would read more than post for now, and google things like “MITAGS” for answers. It would be better to come back to the table with a little more. Just some advice, boat handling ,while you think you are good, is the easiest part of the job…so most in the oil field are excellent boat handlers by trade, but it’s the ones that think they’re good and let you know it by saying how good they are… that are dangerous. Only experience will teach you that, and clearly you don’t have much. I like your drive, but you must show prudence in the field and reflect it in here to get ahead. Attitude is everything when starting out.
Thanks anchorman!
Can a 200 ton Master get ahead in his career by getting DP certification,<br>or is a higher tonnage license more or less expected in the industry?<br><br>Does it make sense to first pay out of pocket for the induction course,<br> then try to get on with a company to continue the DP certification?<br><br>Any ballpark figures on the cost of the induction course?<br>Advice on where to take the course (or where not to take it)?<br><br>I’m a former deep sea radio electronics officer who went over to the deck side,<br>now sailing in the GOM as a mate.<br><br>Any advice appreciated. <br>Thanks -<br>
I already work “in da awl patch”, but in Safety (QHSE). I am trying to move over to the Marine Department and into a DPO slot. Right now I am going through the VERY irritating process of trying to convert Navy training and experience to Coast Guard quals. It defies logic that I am a qualfied OOD (underway) on an Aegis cruiser, a qualified navigator, completed a celestial nav course taught by a Coastie Senior Chief and yet am still having to jump through hoops. LOL
If I am lucky, the Coasties just MIGHT deem me qualified to launch a lifeboat…
Ex Blackshoe,
Don’t fret, it wasn’t too long ago that I was going thru what you are now. You really only need 2 things to get everythign you want:
PATIENCE AND A SENSE OF HUMOR!!!
All kidding aside, you should be able to get a 1600 Master at least. Submit every piece of paper you can from your service record ( I even submitted a copy of my completed SWO PQS book). Don’t give the Coast Guard any possible excuse for denying your request. THey will come back to you after they evaluate your application and tell you what STCW courses you need to take. I only had to take 4.
Good luck
captmike,
Thanks for the words of encouragement. I am a paramedic/RN with a “Medical Person In Charge” ticket so that is off the table. I am scheduled for advanced FF in March. I think they will make me take Stability, GMDSS, and possibly Celestial again. If I get into the ART program where I work, I will be happy to let them PAY ME to go sit in class relearning how to shoot a sun line. LOL
I am a 500GT Upon Oceans Master just coming back to commercial after 20 years in private yachts. The economy has kicked us in the head & I’ve been thinking very seriously about going back to the rigs. 20 years ago I ran a crewboat in GOM & alot has changed. My question is the following to all you guys out there-
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What direction would you take if you were 44 years old with a 500GT ticket. I have very stong computer skills and interests.
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Is DP the direction I need to go? I.E. Run an OSV with plan to upgrade ticket to 1600GT & train for DP cert.
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Does DPO really improve my chances down the road?
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I was running my last boat for eight years. I am a serious captain looking for where to take my next step. Any advice on how to get my foot in the door?
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Best companies looking for a techie captain like me?
Greatly appreciate any help, I’ve already learned alot from this site.
Do you have your STCW, ARPA, GMDSS, and TWIC? Do you have 1600 (3000 ITC) ton Mate Oceans as well?
Everything listed with the exception of Mates ticket.
Oh good, you’re on top of it. 
Depending on your sea time you might be able to add that 1600 mate, it would help.
Have no seatime for larger mate ticket. What I have is 500GT Upon Oceans with AB Special. My question is where my goal should be. How much of a plus is DP for me? If it is really the future I would structure my vessel choice around-i.e. a vessel with class 2 o r3 DP over 100tons. I would then try to get in the DP door once aboard & get into their training program. Thanks for your advice. I have another question that is completely unrelated to DP. Any situations in Commercial that hires couples? My mate also has the same tickets & we have worked as a team for over 10 years. Just thought I’d ask.
Hey Pat,
Met you back around 2002 when you were doing your MCA Class IV COC in Florida. Guess you lost my email!
Don’t worry about DP yet, the unlimited guys are rolling that way, but following recent posts here, 500 ton guys are having a hard time getting on crew boats these days in the patch. Just print out ALL the posts here about jobs, and head on over to N.O.
Everything you asked, and need to know is already here.
FYI seattlemariner just turned down a 14/14 mate job for Cand G.
http://gcaptain.com/maritime/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=422&page=1#Item_41
Here is my run down from last month.
http://gcaptain.com/maritime/forum/comments.php?DiscussionID=500&page=1#Item_4
Good luck
Patrick,
I have an old e-mail address for you in my database. I will try it. I’d love to get caught up offline & hear what you are up. Let’s talk.
- If I were 44 and looking or even 24 and looking, I would try to get on with the best company that I could that either had its own training facility or offered reimbursed training to do what ever I needed to improve my license and skill set. When I say best I do not mean just pay. The over all training could run into the 10’s of thousands of dollars even for someone at the intemediate level.
- DP is not only the direction you need to go, but the direction you will have to go if you want to work on an OSV. Some tugs even have DP on them. You will eventually have to learn it and become certified for it. I want you to know you can run almost any OSV with a 500 ton Master License. You will need to get it endorsed to 3000 tons ITC but that only requires 90 days sea time on a vessel over 1600 tons ITC. Most of the OSV’s are run on ITC tonnage. Also, the Large OSV program can be completed by a 500 ton Master and you can run an OSV up to 6000 tons ITC
- Having a DPO certification or any certification will only improve your value to any future employer
- I guess the best advice I can give you is be persistent and do your homework on the company. Know something going on inside the company. i.e. newbuild information or a recent milestone. Be in the right place at the right time. Get your foot in the door and work hard to prove your worth.
- Best Companies for 500 Ton, Chouest, Otto Candies, HOS, Gulf Offshore Logisitcs (GOL), C & G of Golden Meadow, Seacor, Tidewater. Almost all of these have a website, but don’t expect any of them to beat your door down with just an online resume. To get hired with them you will have to be in person or be very lucky.
Hope this helps, best of Luck. Lee
Capt. Lee,
Thanks for all the detailed information. I have one word for this forum - awesome. Appreciate all the advice. I will be heading to New Orleans for sure to see who I can talk to. I agree the resumes are not the most effective tool.
Pat
Hey great topic near and dear to my heart right now. I am trying to get into dynamic position operator work and was wondering if it would be of any value to go down to Houston and take the basic operators class from kongsberg out of my own pocket. I have my unlimited 2nd mates licence with a completeted TOAR assesment and I’ve put my resume everywhere and it seems that I can’t even get a call back, any advise you guys have would be greatly appreciated.