Thanks, CaptAndrew.
Yeah, I had resigned myself to having to shell out the $$$ for it all along.
What do you mean by a DE in this case? As far as I know, that only means a Designated Examiner for towing vessels. So what determines who can sign off on the AB practical exam?
[QUOTE=Capt. Schmitt;59726]What do you mean by a DE in this case? As far as I know, that only means a Designated Examiner for towing vessels. So what determines who can sign off on the AB practical exam?[/QUOTE]
A DE is [B]not[/B] just for towing vessels. That is just the hot one on this forum. A DE approval is required for many areas of maritime training or rather testing. NVIC 6-97 sets out the details.
I don’t recall what is exactly required for AB but it is not just a captain. It might be a minimum tonnage limitation or some such. But I do recall they have to be approved.
The only reference I have ever seen in the CFRs for “Designated Examiner” is in reference to towing vessels. All the STCW assessments need to be signed off by someone holding a II/2 or a I/2 with a year of time sailing as mate. The AB requirements probably need to be signed off by a certain level of master.
Hey, want to say I’m glad I found this thread and have to be thankfull for the many posts made by experienced people in the field.
I’m one whom is also very interested in pursuing a career as a merchant marine, and one whom has no experience at all basically, the only thing I do know is that I am quite drawn to the work at sea, in particular on some sort of cargo ship.
Honestly, Piney Point does seem a bit scary, it certainly comes across as it has been described as, basically boot camp for like 8 months. That said though, for someone coming in off the street, wanting to get some hefty training and a decent job secured in the industry, I’m not seeing much comparable to it when it comes to costs and training time. For someone like me, 1500 bucks isnt cheap, and that is the estimated cost given by the SIU for its program, which involves basically an entirely free training course. So, to look beyond that at what the other options are for ‘pre’ training programs, the costs are out of my range. I’ve seen the suggestions regarding attempting to get on board with a company that can provide later on free training, starting out at the very bottom as a maintenence type, and after having looked at the Chouest website, it sure looks like someone without previous ship experience doesent have much of a chance to even get in the door.
I am curious though, although the SIU program states I am guranteed a job upon course completion, does a ‘job’ mean just an x month run out on a ship, complete, and then technically you are out of a job until they provide another ‘run’ on another ship, or does it mean I am guranteed regular work and pay? It seems like there is a lack of some important information on their website for sure.
I would have to ask one other question here, is there any sort of web based information sources or books that could be used to prepare in advance for such a course? I’m really not wanting to walk through the door blind.
Tia
“I am curious though, although the SIU program states I am guranteed a job upon course completion, does a ‘job’ mean just an x month run out on a ship, complete, and then technically you are out of a job until they provide another ‘run’ on another ship, or does it mean I am guranteed regular work and pay? It seems like there is a lack of some important information on their website for sure.”
Your first job out of school would be a one-hitch position, after that everything depends on you…nothing is guaranteed.
Wow Maria, You’ve got a ton of responses to this one!
Personally I would opt for an academy. I went Maine Maritime back in the early 90’s as a non-traditional student (married, prior Navy & some prior college), they were very good about transfer credits, and I only had to take core classes. That being said to accrue the seatime, and take the required classes it would still probably take 3 years. Is it expensive? Yes, but to me it was definately worth the investment. I have 2 AB’s on my vessel who hawsepiped to 3rd Mate, and with all of the required classes it took them the better part of 2 years taking classes on their off time to complete the requirements. Plus they had to front around $35,000 all total for classes, room & board etc. Our company reimbursed them, but only after they had the license in hand.
My experience is only with unlimited licenses, but there seems to be plenty of work out there for the 1600 ton and towing vessels as well. The unlimited license tends to open more doors for you with a greater range of vessels available to work on. (The new towing vessels rules make that a seperate license path if you are interested in tugs).
You can opt into the Merchant Marine Reserve Officer program at the state academies, and that get’s you a couple thousand a year. I rejoined the USN as a reservist, and made decent money from 1 weekend drill a month plus the GI bill. Even with my student loans it was a great investment, I was working 2 days after graduation, and have had steady, good paying jobs for the last 17 years.
Good Luck!
Bill Anderson
Master M/V Glenn Edwards
Manson Const.
[QUOTE=seadog!;59777]“I am curious though, although the SIU program states I am guranteed a job upon course completion, does a ‘job’ mean just an x month run out on a ship, complete, and then technically you are out of a job until they provide another ‘run’ on another ship, or does it mean I am guranteed regular work and pay? It seems like there is a lack of some important information on their website for sure.”
Your first job out of school would be a one-hitch position, after that everything depends on you…nothing is guaranteed.[/QUOTE]
Gotcha, thanks for the info. Going to have some time on my hands this winter, it sounds like I need to spend some time doing a good bit of research before making a final decision.
[QUOTE=Capt. Schmitt;58996]SIU is a union, they pursue the paul hall school at piney point. To go to that school you have to join and work for the union. From what I hear, the school is good, the union may not be. There just isn’t much work so you spend a lotr of time sitting in the hall.
The SIU school is indeed excellent. It would be my advise, and I’ve been around a long time, to make this school your starting point.
[QUOTE=hopperdredgbill;59781]Wow Maria, You’ve got a ton of responses to this one!
You can opt into the Merchant Marine Reserve Officer program at the state academies, and that get’s you a couple thousand a year. I rejoined the USN as a reservist, and made decent money from 1 weekend drill a month plus the GI bill. Even with my student loans it was a great investment, I was working 2 days after graduation, and have had steady, good paying jobs for the last 17 years.
Good Luck!
Bill Anderson
Master M/V Glenn Edwards
Manson Const.[/QUOTE]
Thanks, but I can’t do anything military because I’m too “old”. I think my best choice is a two year graduate program if I can get accepted. I think SUNY has the only one. I’m strongly leaning toward Piney Point, because I want to know if I like a maritime career before I invest money into an academy. My only worry is that the year I spend getting an AB special through that program will be wasted if I go to an academy later. None of the sea-time you earn before the academy counts towards a later license, does it?
By the way, my dad brought something up the other day that has made me stop and think. He has the impression that most mariners were in the military, and now I’m wondering if there’s a bias towards hiring ex-military. If that’s the case I won’t have a chance in this industry and I shouldn’t waste my time, because I’m not ex-military, right?
The best is to join Marine Academy, but I believe that there is an “age limit” of 24 years old.
[QUOTE=MariaW;59813]
By the way, my dad brought something up the other day that has made me stop and think. He has the impression that most mariners were in the military, and now I’m wondering if there’s a bias towards hiring ex-military. If that’s the case I won’t have a chance in this industry and I shouldn’t waste my time, because I’m not ex-military, right?[/QUOTE]
You will find that the opposite is closer to the truth. It is a struggle to de-institutionalize Navy and CG guys. They have more people cleaning heads at any given time than the number of people in an entire department (deck or engine) on merchant ship. The longer they were in the worse it is. The guys who bailed out at the first chance and came over are pretty good since their basic technical training is very good and they haven’t been fully programmed yet.
[QUOTE=MariaW;59813] I’m strongly leaning toward Piney Point, because I want to know if I like a maritime career before I invest money into an academy. My only worry is that the year I spend getting an AB special through that program will be wasted if I go to an academy later. None of the sea-time you earn before the academy counts towards a later license, does it?[/QUOTE]
Just curious to know if, after all the time you have spent on this forum asking questions, and getting lots of answers, if you are any closer to figuring out if you want or like a maritime career.
Not trying to be rude to you, but it seems you want to have all the answers, and they may not all be there for you.
My suggestion is to do something, anything, to get a position aboard a vessel of any type, anywhere, to get your feet wet and start the learning process. And accumulating any seatime possible. As a beginner it cant hurt.
Sea-Time before a 4year state academy is irrelevant, and there is no age requirement to go as far as I know.
24 years old age requirement only applies to Kings Point. As far as
Military, I believe it to be the opposite. There are some ex military guys, but most I have worked with were never in the military
Sea time is sea time. It never goes away, it is ALL counted.
If you sail as a teenage crewmember on your daddy’s 20’ sailboat it still counts as a day of sea service.
Seatime earned before getting a z-card still can be counted.
The NMC keeps a spresdsheet of each Mariners days, divided and organized to count days towards your next application.
Not all days will be used for an upgrade.
If you have days in different departments, small vessels, different routes etc, they might not count towards advancement; but they will be on record.
Flyer69 is right, there is no one size fits all anwser to a lot of your questions. Get a deckhand job and see if you even like the industry first.