I have a master 500 oceans and just got my licsense renewed for 5 yrs this month the only restriction on it is my ECDIS course which I am doing in late July. I dont see a provision saying I need a H.E.L.M course
If you don’t do that course your stcw will expire Jan 1 2017.
PISS MORE MONEY and there is no schools in Northern California.
I think the schools are in cahoots with the CG. It’s becoming cost prohibitive to even stay employed. If the company doesn’t pay for me to go I guess my STCW will just expire. I can’t afford to take the time off and pay for the class. And I’m lucky since there is a school close by and I don’t have to travel to take the classes.
This is the first I’ve heard it called ‘human element.’
I wasn’t impressed with MITAGS charging me $25/day cause I don’t want to stay at their $175/day hotel. No company is paying for my professional development. Highway fucking robbery. Just thankful I have a spouse that works and my VA benefits haven’t expired.
DONT forget ECDIS also .
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[QUOTE=Ctony;183650]This is the first I’ve heard it called ‘human element.’[/QUOTE]
H
H.E.L.M
It is apparently one of the USCG’s “silent endorsements.” Mine was submitted last fall, and they just put it on file. When the ECDIS certificate was filed, they sent me a whole new little red book.
And you notice they all charge about the same. HUMMM! 2 classes $2600 plus 1 i have to travel . Fly ,car , hotel,food and weeks loss wagers. for 1 class. BLOWS
Is this the same course as “Leadership and Managerial Skills”?
Because if the aforementioned satisfies the same STCW requirement then you can knock that out for a song at LA tech Delgado.
I know the secretary or whatever she was at MPT talked down to me like and idiot and tried to sell me on their “HELM” course which was for an outrageous price.
I did some calling around and investigating and the course I took satisfies the same STCW 2010 requirement and all the proof I needed to verify that was the new MMC stickers I got from the puddle pirates showing I am good to go except for ECDIS which I only plan on taking if I get on an ECDIS boat.
Until then I can live without it.
The chart plotting software like Rose Point is ECDIS based anyway.
It does not have nearly the amount of features as ECDIS but it is all the “ECDIS” I need until I get a job offer requiring it or they amend the requirements at the next STCW to require it whether your boat has it or not.
Case and point…
After I submitted for an STCW endorsement they extended my STCW expiration date to the same date my MMC expires for 5th issue.
Hope that helps the downtrodden and hopeless mariners out there that are being told they have to fork out big bucks for one more useless class to keep an STCW.
FYI
In my own personal experience LA Tech campuses whether that be Young Memorial in Morgan City, Fletcher in Houma, or Delgado in NOLA have the best prices of any of the numerous schools I have price shopped at.
The “in state” tuition is incredibly low and the “out of stater” tuition is not really that much higher.
Yes you got to fork it out for room, board, and travel but those are write offs.
And if you can’t beat the standard deduction so that you may write if off then I recommend the Sea School.
All courses come with 3 hots and a cot, there is bar within walking distance for the bar rats, and they will pick you up from the airport and take you back.
NOLA and Pensacola about the same distance but better pricing in and out of NOLA.
Hope that helps…
LMK if I am mistaken so I can double check but I am pretty sure “Leadership and Managerial Skills” covers “HELM”.
signed
sick of forking it out
Engineers have 3 gap closing classes that have to get done. MEECE, ERM, and Leadership/Management. 15 days total and about $5k in courses alone, not including travel, hotels and meals.
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I’ve heard 2nd handed that the classes at MITAGS are more professionally ran, but the cost, location and their hotel deal, puts them in a too expensive category.
I have been in MITAGS and MPT.
Only thing better in MITAGS is the facilities, other than that I pick MPT over MITAGS anyday.
Unless its something critical that requires the use of a simulator.
There is Training Resource Limited in San Diego that offer some courses.
[QUOTE=Ctony;183650]This is the first I’ve heard it called ‘human element.’[/QUOTE]
Officially it’s not, it’s Leadership and Managerial Skills. Certain school(s) might call their specific class HELM and that class meets the requirements for Leadership and Managerial Skills.
$5000 for classes that your company may or may not pay for that you must have irregardless and 15 more days away from home. Is it just me or is this getting to the point of being unreasonable? And starting next year we will be required to take refresher classes for certain endorsements.
THANK YOU “CAPT PHOENIX”!!!
My exact same reply was not posted because i must have said something i shouldn’t have in regards to a certain school who is probably an advertiser or contributor to gCaptain in some way.
I don’t blame gCaptain for that.
We are all just trying to get by and why let a dumbass like me fuck that up?
But I will try to post again that LA Tech has the same course requirements you are required to meet under the STCW 2010 for the best tuition prices in the States.
If you need a place where you get 3 hots and a cot cheaper than you can find on your own then go to the Sea School. It is included in your tuition.
None of their courses are over priced and laced with bullshit trying to lighten your wallet by several thousand dollars.
They are pro USMM and realize that we are just trying to make a living to and don’t have the money to fork our several thousand bucks every time the STCW comes up with a new “rule”.
Sea school will even pick you up and drop you off at NOLA or Pensacola.
LA Tech you are on your own but they have a list of hotels they have agreements with for deeply discounted student pricing.
And WTF man, all of these courses are more bullets on your resume and tax write offs.
So if you look at it from a different perspective…You are letting Uncle Sam pay for your schooling, transportation, lodging, etc., etc.
Fork it out Uncle Sammy!!!
How do ya like me now!!!
Shoe’s on da udder foot now ain’t is Samuel!!!
Ha!
Hooza!!!
Engineers have been particularly hit in this case. I think the classes should have been phased in over a longer time frame, at least another few years for ECDIS/meec etc. Fortunately my company helped with the class but there went a week of my time off. I will say for licensed “professionals” it’s really not too bad in contrast to some other professions and their continuing Ed class. I’m renewing in the fall to buy 5 more years before I have to take Bst though…
[QUOTE=ForkandBlade;183740]Engineers have 3 gap closing classes that have to get done. MEECE, ERM, and Leadership/Management. 15 days total and about $5k in courses alone, not including travel, hotels and meals.
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I’ve heard 2nd handed that the classes at MITAGS are more professionally ran, but the cost, location and their hotel deal, puts them in a too expensive category.[/QUOTE]
I went to MAMA for the last two (don’t need MEECE yet, but they now offer it). That’s because I live within commuting distance, though.
You guys are right its leadership /managerial . NOT HELM. Sorry. I called National Maritime Center and they corrected me. and I tried to find what dept LA tech teaches it and even called and got no where. Can you help me on that. Also Cal Maritime In Vallejo Calif just got certafied to teach it but there NEVER cheap. But its in my back yard.
[QUOTE=sailfish;183828]Cal Maritime In Vallejo Calif just got certafied to teach it but there NEVER cheap. But its in my back yard.[/QUOTE]
Paying more for a class that’s close to home is actually cheaper, depending on how much more. No travel, eating out, or hotel costs.