“Guidance on Professional Examinations for Mariners Holding Endorsements as Master 500/1,600 GRT Applying for Third Mate Unlimited Tonnage
The Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing has published CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-25 titled Professional Examination for Mariners Raising the Grade of Officer Endorsements from Master Less Than 500 or 1,600 Gross Registered Tons to Third Mate of Unlimited Tonnage.
This policy removes the examination requirement for mariners who hold a national endorsement as Master 500 GRT or Master 1600 GRT who are applying for an endorsement as Third Mate unlimited tonnage on the same route.”
I can verify that they’ve “received the memo” about this at the NMC.
What if you already have enough sea time for Second Mate?
Will NMC issue Second Mate unlimited or only Third Mate unlimited without an exam?
If one obtains the Third Mate unlimited under this policy, and then sails 360 days while holding Third Mate, will NMC then issue Second Mate unlimited without an exam?
Would upgrading from Third Mate Unlimited to Second Mate Unlimited with tug and barge sea time result in a tonnage limitation?
Am I correct this will only be for a domestic 3rd mate unlimited and if you require STCW II/1 OICNW you’ll have to complete the below STCW approved courses? I read if you already hold a OICNW II/1 more than 500GT you get to also skip the assessments.
“Training
Within 10 Years of Application Date
All Applicants Unless Previously Met
Medical First Aid Provider
Search and Rescue
Visual Signaling
Bridge Resource Management
Terrestrial and Celestial Navigation and Electronic Navigation Systems
Watchkeeping, including COLREGS and IMO Standard Marine
Communication Phrases (SMCP)
Cargo Handling and Stowage
Ship Handling
Stability and Ship Construction
Meteorology”
So most people will be only in the short term be qualifying for a domestic 3rd mate on a National license with this new pathway until they can complete the STCW classes.
If you have STCW II/1 and II/2, 3000 or more and all of the other STCW endorsements that go with it (as many of us do), then you don’t need anything else.
Many of us are only limited by our national endorsements.
Same here, 2000 grt limitation…but I expected that. So options going forward to remove the limitation if I desire are:
if sailing on ATBs as mate the combined tug/barge tonnage will meet tonnage requirements OR can sail as an AB to get the required tonnage OR magically find a vessel over 1600 grt/under 2000 grt to sail as a mate. Am I missing anything?
I also have Mate OSV unlimited so I could go back to OSVs and get the time/tonnage that way.
I think you are missing an expletive or two to express how arcane and preposterous the CG regulations are for the poor hawespipers that remain in this industry.
