Hello, I have been reading these forums for a few days, I am researching a career change and the idea of becoming an engineer on a ship appealed to me. I have an education question, I have an unrelated bachelors degree, if I decided on this career what education should I get? A 2nd bachelors? An associates from somewhere like Seattle Maritime Academy? The only graduate degree I know that comes a license is the one at SUNY maritime and that’s for a deck license… Thank you.
I lived in Maine near an ex navy submariner who had a doctorate from MIT (I think it was Marine Engineering). Your computer is your best bet looking for curriculum. I worked with an Arab guy from Detroit with an Automotive Engineering Degree. He sailed one year as a wiper and sat for his Third Engineers license. Last time I saw him he was a first engineer with a chiefs license. Good luck.
Lots of choices for getting a license from a maritime academy. Not sure about Seattle Maritime Academy. Never heard of it. State schools are in California, Texas, Maine, Massachusets and New York. There is also the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in Michigan and the Federal academy at Kings Point in New York. All of the schools have programs that will give you an opportunity to sit for your Third Assistant Engineer’s license. With previous college credits, the state and Great Lakes academies may allow an accelerated plan. Kings Point will not. The best thing to do would be to contact the individual schools and see what they can do. There is an age limit at KP, although there is no tuition, but the entry is pretty rigorous. Of course, then you live with the scar of having graduated from KP for the rest of your life. . . .
Google is your friend. I would start there and research the individual schools and see what would work for you.
If you get a B.S. in either mechanical or electrical engineering from any US college that is properly accredited, and also get 6 months of seatime you can sit for an USCG 3rd engineers license exam.
I’m working as a QMED and I have a B.S. in chemistry ( they said, go to college, be successful)… Should I be studying for my 3AE exam?
[QUOTE=tugsailor;92983]If you get a B.S. in either mechanical or electrical engineering from any US college that is properly accredited, and also get 6 months of seatime you can sit for an USCG 3rd engineers license exam.[/QUOTE]
Not “properly accredited” i.e. leading to a college degree, it has to be accredited by the Accreditation Board for Engineering Technology (ABET). Not all engineering programs are ABET-accredited, including some of the academies. This route will get you the 3rd AE license, but not STCW as it is neither a Coast Guard approved STCW program, not does it provide the alternative (for STCW OICEW) of 3 years of sea service. Your ability to work without STCW will be limited.
[QUOTE=stanton.samuel;93183]I’m working as a QMED and I have a B.S. in chemistry ( they said, go to college, be successful)… Should I be studying for my 3AE exam?[/QUOTE]
Only if you have 3 years of sea time.
Meth labs pay more than shipping companies, if you get caught you also a better and bigger room and free dental and medical for at least 10 years.
[QUOTE=Too bad steam is gone;94319]Meth labs pay more than shipping companies, if you get caught you also a better and bigger room and free dental and medical for at least 10 years.[/QUOTE]
You can set up a shake-and-bake meth lab and keep it in the boiler test cabinet. Why not have the best of both worlds? Live large!