When I graduate from Maine Maritime and if I join the coastguard how do I accumulate sea time? Or better yet how do I move up to second mate if I’m in the coast guard?
You can use Coast Guard time to advance your license. Cpast Guard time is normally counted at 60% (10 days on the cutter = 6 days service credit). The time will have to be on a cutter of appropriate tonnage and route. In the recent past maritime academy graduates were pigeon-holed for the marine safety program and rarely had an opportunity to get on a cutter. In the last few years this has changed and academy graduates move between marine safty and cutter forces more frequently.