Foreign 3rd Engineer / Permanent Resident: Transitioning to US Merchant Marine (QMED pathway)

Maritime Topics Maritime Training & Licensing
1

Hello everyone,

I am relocating to the US (Dallas, TX area) as a Permanent Resident (Green Card) with full work authorization. Looking for realistic advice from experienced mariners on breaking into the US maritime industry.

My Background:

Sea time: 5+ years of sea service on large commercial container vessels (deep sea / international).

Experience: Worked my way up hands-on from Oiler to 4th Engineer (3rd A/E equivalent) and 3rd Engineer (2nd A/E equivalent).

Credentials: Hold a Russian STCW 2nd Engineer (1st A/E equivalent) Motor Unlimited CoC, along with standard STCW endorsements, basic safety, advanced firefighting, etc.

My Understanding & Questions:

1. Since USCG officer licenses require US citizenship under the Jones Act, my immediate path on US-flag vessels is the unlicensed rating route via MMC (QMED).

2. I plan to get my TWIC as step one upon arrival, followed by medical (CG-719K) and applying for the MMC.

3. Sea Time Evaluation: How strictly does the National Maritime Center (NMC) evaluate foreign sea time discharge books/letters for QMED endorsements (e.g., QMED Any Rating vs specific endorsements like Oiler/Fireman/Watertender, Junior Engineer)?

4. Employment / Unions: For someone with deep-sea motor experience, what is the fastest route to get to work — going through unions like SIU (Piney Point) / MEBA (unlicensed hall), or targeting non-union offshore supply vessels (OSVs) and inland towboats in the Gulf of Mexico?

Any guidance on navigating the NMC paperwork, recommended QMED endorsements to test for, or companies open to mariners with foreign CoCs would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

2

There are none, at least not any operating U.S. flag vessels. To work on a U.S. flag vessel you need documents issued by the United States. In addition, the U.S. does not issue certificates attesting to the recognition of foreign certificates under STCW Regulation I/10. You will need original documents issued by the U.S.

3

Thanks @jdcavo, understood regarding STCW Regulation I/10 and US-flag requirements.

My main focus is obtaining an original US-issued MMC as a Permanent Resident. Can foreign sea service (documented in discharge books/sea service letters) be credited by NMC toward the sea time requirements for an unlicensed QMED endorsement (such as Oiler or Junior Engineer)? Or does that qualifying sea time have to be earned from scratch on US vessels?

4

This is info from 1977 when I put forth my three years of foreign-flag deck seatime to obtain my American A.B. Z-card (I’m born in the U.S.). First I had to get my discharges/ratings (deckboy, ordinary seaman, able-bodied seaman) translated and officially stamped at the consulate of the issuing nation. The Coast Guard then accepted my time, and I was able to take the appropriate test.

5

Thanks, @AKBJR! Really appreciate you sharing your experience. Good to know that foreign sea service being credited by the USCG has a long-standing history. I’ll make sure to have all my discharge books and official company sea service letters properly translated and ready for the NMC.

6

Short answer: yes, foreign time counts, and you don’t need to start from scratch for ratings.

  • Citizenship: officer endorsements (3 A/E etc.) need US citizenship, but rating endorsements are open to lawful permanent residents. 46 CFR 10.221(a).
  • Foreign sea service is creditable for an original rating endorsement, subject to the Coast Guard deciding it’s a fair equivalent for grade, tonnage, horsepower, waters and operating conditions. 46 CFR 10.232(f)(1): eCFR :: 46 CFR 10.232 -- Sea service.
  • QMED only needs 6 months in a rating at least equal to Wiper. 46 CFR 12.503(a): eCFR :: 46 CFR 12.503 -- Service or training requirements. You’re way past that.
  • You still have to pass the QMED exam for each rating you want (Oiler, Junior Engineer, Electrician etc.), in English. 46 CFR 12.505.

For the paperwork, 10.232(a)(2) lists what a service letter has to show if it isn’t a US discharge: vessel names and official numbers, GT, propulsion power and type, your capacity, dates, routes, and whether the ship was SOLAS/STCW. Get your company letters to cover all of that, translated, before you submit. You’ll need a TWIC first too, since the green card goes in with that application (10.221(b)).

Once you naturalize, the same foreign time can be evaluated toward an original officer endorsement under 10.232(f)(1).

Disclosure: I’m with RegKnots, an AI compliance tool. Answer checked against the cited regs; verify with NMC/your OCMI for your situation.

7

Should I be afraid my job is about to be taken over by AI? Because I’m not…