My perception is that you’ll overcome it much easier if you just open your checkbook and spend the money to get DP. If I decide to make the jump that was what I was told by someone well established in bayou hiring; advice from mariner to mariner not just for his company. I’ll eat it and go take the class myself should i decide i want to go south. Also if a guy has say 10 years wheelhouse experience elsewhere and a 1600 ton masters license, and gets a DP induction to go with it you’ll really stand out that much more against pimple-faced recent academy grads*. You’d have a hard time getting a job on a tug without a towing endorsement or TOAR, right?
Does having that basic DP class under your belt really do anything? I’ve contemplated taking it but suspected that since it means next to nothing, that it wasn’t worth it. I guess if a company is really penny pinching then they’ll be more interested in someone who has already spent the 2 or 3 thousand on that initial class?
The DP induction class will get you a Nautical Institute log book with the induction class stamp in it. Then you need to acquire some dP time (30 days I think) so you can go to the DP simulator.
Just going off what was advisable to do if one wants to make themselves more employable than the next guy. Same as packing a bag and going door knocking, rather have it or not.
