Master 500/1,600 GRT Applying for Third Mate Unlimited Tonnage

Professional Mariner Forum
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“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.

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The policy letter is literally a memo addressed to NMC.

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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?

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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.

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This rule change will not affect your STCW endorsements. Anything you needed before, you will still need.

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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.

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Most 1,600 ton ocean masters will already have that so why do you think they would need to redo everything?

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They probably don’t have the STCW endorsements. Lotsa classes these days.

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You can’t sail on anything over 200 GRT outside the boundary line without STCW so they better have the STCW endorsements.

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1600T master with zero sea time over 1600T

They gave me a 3rds mates limited 2000GRT

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As required by 46 CFR 11.402(b).

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The USCG screws us again.

Why am I surprised?