Just curious how people feel about the coast guard requiring 2 licensed officers for the engine dept on vessels over 200 tons? I feel like regardless of how easy they make it to for someone to get an entry level license, there will still be a significant shortage starting Jan of 2015. Most importantly, is it actually going to stick and go in to effect this time?
More jobs for us…unless they figure out a way to use foreigners.
[QUOTE=catherder;126646]More jobs for us…unless they figure out a way to use foreigners.[/QUOTE]
Long overdue, in my opinion. Our fishing fleet has flown well under the radar when it comes to licensing. But too often have relied on the Coast Guard to respond to emergencies and it is no wonder they are being looked at.
If there was a cg license on the bridge, it might make the life a little easier for the rescue swimmers, the helo pilots and the families of crewmen who fish for a living.
I remember talking to my Brother (UL Master) about the TV Show The Deadliest Catch and wondering how long it would take the CG to start adding new requirements. Come on how many times do you hear the “Captain” say how he has been up for well over 24 hours. Anyone pissed off at the new regulations have that show to thank for bring their life into the public eye.
[QUOTE=snacktray;126538]Just curious how people feel about the coast guard requiring 2 licensed officers for the engine dept on vessels over 200 tons? I feel like regardless of how easy they make it to for someone to get an entry level license, there will still be a significant shortage starting Jan of 2015. Most importantly, is it actually going to stick and go in to effect this time?[/QUOTE]
The rest of us are regulated right up the arse, it’s high time the fishing fleet was too, especially, given the high rate of incidents and the decrepit state of an undue percentage of the fleet. While this industry was not so very long ago composed entirely of “pirates”, things have calmed and become vastly more professional. The fishing fleet are the last of those “pirates” in American waters. I have no doubt that this transition will be excruciatingly painful for the fishing industry but it will be better for all concerned in the long run, those on the boats, and those on other boats near them.
[QUOTE=Tugs;126662]I remember talking to my Brother (UL Master) about the TV Show The Deadliest Catch and wondering how long it would take the CG to start adding new requirements. Come on how many times do you hear the “Captain” say how he has been up for well over 24 hours. Anyone pissed off at the new regulations have that show to thank for bring their life into the public eye.[/QUOTE]
Valid point, except that most of those boats are under 200 tons, so this really has nothing to do with them. They are still completely UL
Long overdue! Not just for engineers but new regulations for the operators and they’re training requirements. It is amazing and baffling to see the amount of knowledge these who make they’re living on the water do no know about rudimentary topics like navigation rules, navigation, emergency procedures, etc. Can’t understand why the fishing industry is the second deadliest occupation in America in 2012, thanks to logging being number one! These guys who have the responsibility to they’re crews don’t understand death is forever.
Too bad most shrimp boats are under 200 tons…
The vast majority of fishing boats will see no change. Relatively few boats over 200 tons.
Few new jobs for licensed people without fishing skills
Fishings been going down the tubes for 20+ years. Ideally i think the gummint wants relatively few fishing vessels, but big bad ones that are far easier to police…a dozen big groundfish boats in New England is far easier to police than hundreds of small ones…if there are even that many left!! Then you’ll see licenses, but perpetual issues between fishing masters and captains etc. of course everything will be built to 199grt though. There Are good owners out there though.
It doesn’t matter the size of vessel for operators of all commercial fishing vessels. All will need to prove competence as of 16 October 2015. What that looks like, still needs to be seen. Masters of vessels over 200 GRT will still need to be licensed.
[QUOTE=PaddyWest2012;126665]The rest of us are regulated right up the arse, it’s high time the fishing fleet was too, especially, given the high rate of incidents and the decrepit state of an undue percentage of the fleet. While this industry was not so very long ago composed entirely of “pirates”, things have calmed and become vastly more professional. The fishing fleet are the last of those “pirates” in American waters. I have no doubt that this transition will be excruciatingly painful for the fishing industry but it will be better for all concerned in the long run, those on the boats, and those on other boats near them.[/QUOTE]
The NOAA Corps is not required to be licensed, and most of them avoid licensing even while gathering plenty of sea time, because guess what- liability then falls on the Chief Engineer (who is required to be licensed).
And it shows. They display an appalling lack of knowledge regarding the laws that govern us, as well as union rules regarding rest periods, call outs, call-backs, restriction to the ship, STCW requirements, etc.
That’s another thing that should change. But I don’t expect it to.
[QUOTE=catherder;126702]The NOAA Corps is not required to be licensed, and most of them avoid licensing even while gathering plenty of sea time, because guess what- liability then falls on the Chief Engineer (who is required to be licensed).
[/QUOTE]
That has to rate up near the top of the pile of horsecrap theories about who is “liable” for what … do you guys spend so much time at the dock you have time to think up stuff like that?
[QUOTE=Steamer;126704]That has to rate up near the top of the pile of horsecrap theories about who is “liable” for what … do you guys spend so much time at the dock you have time to think up stuff like that?[/QUOTE]
Actually, we do…in fact, I’m sitting here on a near deserted ship right now. But that gem was not a product of my own thinking.
I couldn’t quite understand that. When they were paying for training I was taking an STCW course every chance I got. So many of my peers said that they were going to get their license and put it on the back burner. I guess if you want to make a career of it who cares. I always had the thought they’d abolish the Corps, so I wanted a backup plan.
[QUOTE=Quimby;126706]I couldn’t quite understand that. When they were paying for training I was taking an STCW course every chance I got. So many of my peers said that they were going to get their license and put it on the back burner. I guess if you want to make a career of it who cares. I always had the thought they’d abolish the Corps, so I wanted a backup plan.[/QUOTE]
Well, I don’t get it either- with a license, you guys have the opportunity to establish a second career for yourself should you retire at 20 with your pension. Or even if you leave sooner than that. It’s like money in the bank. I am an engineer and I’ve paid for all of my own courses out of pocket. I don’t plan to stay much longer.
There’s no money to train anyone, now. Have you heard about the Rainier/Fairweather “rotation?”
Only one will be underway at a time, and they will pull crew from one to augment on the other.
That’s a sign of trouble. I wish the taxpayers knew what they were paying for.
Ya I jumped ship over a year ago. NOAA is in the dumps for sure. Running Mate in the Gulf now. I don’t feel as angry as I used to. It’s great!
[QUOTE=Scallywag;126699]It doesn’t matter the size of vessel for operators of all commercial fishing vessels. All will need to prove competence as of 16 October 2015. What that looks like, still needs to be seen. Masters of vessels over 200 GRT will still need to be licensed.[/QUOTE]
Masters of fishing vessels over 200 tons have required licenses for at least the last 50 years. Nothing new there. That’s why there are thousands of fishing vessels under 200 tons and only a handful (mostly in Alaska) over 200 tons.
Regardless of size a license is going to be required by 2015? You think, a grade school kid rowing a skiff to haul his pots by hand (like his father and grandfather did) will be required to have an operator’s license? That’s never going top happen. Fishermen don’t have the kind of political power that farmer’s do, but tens of thousands of US fishermen have enough political power to prevent this sort of insanity.
It seems like about the only things left that people don’t need some type of license for, is working for the government, working for a non-profit special interest group, or collecting welfare.
[QUOTE=Quimby;126710]Ya I jumped ship over a year ago. NOAA is in the dumps for sure. Running Mate in the Gulf now. I don’t feel as angry as I used to. It’s great![/QUOTE]
Yeah, I think a lot of people are looking around. When you go up to the bridge and you see a list of recruiters tacked to the bulletin board you know something’s up.
When the big Christmas holiday exodus began, a lot of people packed up everything in their rooms and took it all with them with the intention of not coming back.
They have me cooling my heels in Newport until the New Year.
From what I’ve seen of the Western Pacific Tuna Fleet, a few more licensed personnel sure couldn’t hurt…