Ive looked threw the threads and haven’t seen anything. So i have my A/B special and im having trouble with employers that want at least a A/B limited. So does anybody know who would take A/B specials. I am currently talking with ECO but nothing is set so i would like more leads. Thanks
How much sea time so you have now, since you got the special?
I have 410 days so far
Sounds like you have enough for your limited AB. Get on the NMC website and send in the paperwork.
You need 540 days for limited i still need a couple of months
410 days total or since you got the special. What type vessel? And are these 12 hour days?
410 total days and i worked on tankers and ammo ships.
I was getting paid hourly so all different hours
Wow. Congratulations on getting your AB as soon as you could!
Just want to be clear. You only have 410 days service on vessels? Any vessels? You don’t have any more time… On anything that floats? Since you were 18 yrs old? Any time is valid, and will accrue towards the required time.
[QUOTE=cappy208;79820]Wow. Congratulations on getting your AB as soon as you could!
Just want to be clear. You only have 410 days service on vessels? Any vessels? You don’t have any more time… On anything that floats? Since you were 18 yrs old? Any time is valid, and will accrue towards the required time.[/QUOTE]
Just a note, one can still get one’s MMC at the age of 16. Of course no company will hire you without a large dose of nepotism…
No thats all i got all together i was never in the military or anything. I see people who have limited getting picked up on here and i only need a little more time to have my limited
Doesn’t have to be military. Time on ANYthing that floats counts. You have no time on yachts? Fishing boats? Ferry boats? Nothing???
Well if not then sorry to say, you need the extra time.
Just got off of a deep sea ship with 6 man deck gang. Had 1 STOS, 1 AB special, 1 AB Limited and 3 unlimited (1 being the Bos’n). The first 3 were all watch standers. Just have to find the company that will hire you.
All time needs to be over 100 gross tons for AB limited. I sailed as AB special on oceangoing tugs before upgrading and we currently have AB specials working deck. Make sure you have RPFNW, as not having that will limit your marketability considerably. I would think most tug outfits would hire an AB special if you make a good impression and they need to fill a billet.
Ya troy i have my rfpnw and my life boat and all my current seatime are from ship over 100gt. It would probably be easier to get on a shipping company going over seas somewhere.
ABLE SEAMAN- Unlimited
Three years (1080 days) service on deck on vessels operating on the oceans or the Great Lakes.
ABLE SEAMAN- Limited
Eighteen months (540 days) service on deck in vessels of 100 Gross Register Tons (Domestic Tonnage) or over in a service not exclusively confined to rivers and smaller inland lakes of the U.S.
ABLE SEAMAN- Special
Twelve months (360 days) service on deck on vessels operating on the oceans or navigable waters of the U.S. including the Great Lakes.
Yup. I stand corrected the Special (and less) can be on smaller vessels, but the Limited and Unlimited are all over 100 GT
Thanks cappy
That’s bettter.
To go one step further, this is chapter 16 from the Marine Safety Manual. I ran in to trouble back when I was going for my AB special in that my evaluator wanted all my time over 65 feet. None of my time was over 65 feet but I was running 25.5 foot tugs pushing/towing 100ft barges. I had to bring up this excerpt from the Marine Safety Manual to argue my case:
- Character Of Qualifying Service.
a. Background.
The sea service requirements for the able seaman ratings are set forth in 46 U.S.C. 7307 through 7311a. The source statute as recodified in 1983 was 46 U.S.C. 672. Originally, that statute provided for three types of able seaman ratings. The service required for what are now AB-Unlimited and AB-Limited had to be on vessels of 100 gross tons or more. In 1980, Congress modified the statute to, among other things, provide an orderly ladder of advancement based on experience levels. It created the current AB ratings and specified the required sea service to qualify for each. It eliminated the minimum vessel size requirement for qualifying sea service toward AB-Unlimited. It specified that the service must be service on deck and it defined "service on deck."
b. Service On Deck.
Qualifying service for all able seaman ratings except Able Seaman-MOU must be service on deck. Under 46 U.S.C. 7301, service on deck is “service in the deck department in work related to the work usually performed on board vessels by able seamen and may include service on fishing, fish processing, fish tender vessels and on public vessels of the United States.” The intent of this requirement is to advance individuals to the rating of AB based on their familiarity with the various duties and tasks performed under that rating. The applicant’s experience shall be reviewed to ensure that the basic experience is within these statutory guidelines. Although there is no minimum vessel size specified, evaluators should keep in mind the duties of an able seaman when evaluating sea service to determine if it can be considered “service on deck.” [NOTE: Pub.L. 101-595, Title VI, 602(e)(3), Nov. 16, 1990, noted under 46 U.S.C. 7306, requires that any service that was used to qualify for Able Seaman- Fishing Industry shall be accepted for Able Seaman-Special or Unlimited. For Able Seaman-Limited, that service shall be accepted provided it was on board vessels of at least 100 gross tons.] - Service As A Maintenance-Person.
Time served in the maintenance department of a vessel, where a maintenance department is allowed by the vessel’s COI, is considered 50% deck service and 50% engine service, unless the certificate of discharge specifies otherwise. The portion of service on deck may be credited toward required service for AB. - Qualifying Service On Mobile Offshore Units.
Experience in the deck department of a mobile offshore unit (MOU) is creditable toward able seaman endorsements even if the rig is temporarily bottom bearing. The following are considered deck department positions: roustabouts, roughneck, tool pusher, rig superintendent, driller, derrickman, and crane operator. In some cases a barge engineer on a moveable rig is part of the deck department. Companies must be contacted and a letter provided verifying the applicant’s deck department service in each case. Welders are not part of the deck department and their service is not qualifying for AB. - Qualifying Service On Fixed Platforms.
Experience gained on fixed structures may substitute for up to one third of the service requirement for any able seaman rating provided that:
a. The structure is equipped with Coast Guard approved lifeboats/survival capsules;
b. The applicant shows evidence of having been trained in the use and maintenance of that equipment; and
c. All regular drills are held on the structure as evidenced in the company log. - Examinations.
Applicants for an AB-OSV or AB-MOU endorsement must be examined with the proper examination for that endorsement. Previous policy allowing applicants to test with the AB-Unlimited examination, then qualify as lifeboatman and present only sea service for the AB-Unlimited endorsement, is canceled. The nature of the examinations are different because the AB-OSV exam includes numerous questions on lifesaving not included in the AB-Unlimited exam. The AB-MOU exam is directed towards the knowledge, skills and abilities required on board an MOU. Previous applicants for AB-OSV or AB-MOU who passed the AB-Unlimited exam may receive the AB Special, Limited or Unlimited endorsement until March 25, 2000 in accordance with the policy in effect at the time of testing. RECs should give this new policy widespread publicity. - Able Seaman-Fishing Industry.
An individual may be rated as Able Seaman-Fishing Industry if the individual has at least 6 months service on deck on board vessels operating on the oceans or the navigable waters of the United States (including the Great Lakes). The endorsement Able Seaman-Fishing Industry permits the holder to serve as AB only on fish processing vessels. - Able Seaman-Sail.
An individual may be rated as Able Seaman-Sail if the individual has at least 6 months service on deck on sailing school vessels, oceanographic research vessels powered primarily by sail, or equivalent sailing vessels operating on the oceans or navigable waters of the United States (including the Great Lakes). The endorsement permits the holder to serve as AB only on sailing school vessels. - AbleSeaman-MOU.
The regulations do not specify an endorsement as Able Seaman-MOU, but the Coast Guard instituted the endorsement in response to industry needs. Mobile offshore units (MOUs) include non-self-propelled and self-propelled mobile offshore units while under tow or at the exploration or exploitation site operating exclusively in mineral and oil exploration and exploitation. This includes drilling, accommodation, construction, maintenance, pipelaying and firefighting vessels. It does not include supply and towing vessels. The general requirements of 46 CFR 12.01 and 12.02 apply.
a. General Requirements For Able Seaman-MOU.
Applicants must be at least eighteen years of age, speak and understand the English language as required to perform able seaman and emergency duties, and meet the same physical standards that apply to the other able seaman endorsements. Able Seaman-MOU may only serve as AB on mobile offshore units.
b. Service Requirements For Able Seaman-MOU.
Applicants must have twelve months service (360 eight-hour days) on vessels of at least 65 feet or more on ocean, coastwise or inland routes. A U.S. Coast Guard approved training program may substitute for up to one third of the service. Such a course should include realistic survival craft and survival equipment training.
c. Examination(s) For Able Seaman-MOU.
Applicants must pass the examination for Able Seaman-MOU. Applicants must also complete the practical and written examination for either lifeboatman or lifeboatman- MOU prior to obtaining an Able Seaman-MOU endorsement.
Actually, AB Unlimited has no minimum size either. Just Limited.