Be doing a little searching about some clarification on the Near Coastal rule and how it apples to foreign voyages. I know the new STCW verbiage uses Near Coastal in its wording and this was an attempt at clarifying g the statement but really didn’t help.
5. (ADDED02/14/14)Thereviseddefinitionof“near-coastal”includestextwhich reads, “This would also include those near-coastal waters identified by another Administration when the U.S. has entered into a treaty or an agreement with that country respecting the recognition of the U.S. near-coastal endorsement.” May we interpret this to mean that no U.S.-flag vessel may operate outside U.S. waters using U.S. credentialed personnel holding only a near-coastal endorsement?
"No. The U.S. has received acceptance of our near-coastal endorsements by some foreign Administrations. In those Administrations’ near-coastal waters, the U.S. near-coastal endorsements may be used in accordance with each Administration’s port state control procedures.
We do not have a definitive list of those countries/Administrations that consider the U.S. near- coastal endorsements as being acceptable for service in such foreign coastal jurisdictions.
All of the current informal agreements/understandings precede the 2010 STCW Amendments. In the near future, we intend to reach out to relevant administrations to ascertain the status of such mariners."
Do any of you have any experience with this? Would a near coastal trip from Brownsville down the Mexican coast be considered a near coastal voyage? Do you know of a better way to get this info. I plan on adding oceans soon but in the meantime I’d like to stay on the up and up.
Thankss
This post from the CG’s Frequently asked questions page is dated 9/15/2015
All of the current informal agreements/understandings precede the 2010 STCW Amendments. In the near future, we intend to reach out to relevant administrations to ascertain the status of such mariners.
This post from the CG’s Frequently asked questions page is dated 9/15/2015