AB deckhand to Mate (pilot)/Master of Towing Vessels
I have heard too much advice from people on board that were grandfathered into their endorsement. Their advice for seamanship or boat handling can be invaluable but it is usually the opposite for licensing which is understandable.
If an AB deckhand takes a course that satisfies or passes exam TV01 (near coastal) and is then endorsed as Apprentice Mate (steersman), after 360 days of training and observation on towing vessels and completing a TOAR, they can submit for a raise of grade to National Mate (pilot) of Towing Vessels. 540 days of working as Mate, then raise of grade to Master of Towing Vessels.
Is this correct?
What are the limitations (tonnage?) of this endorsement?
I’ve heard “just go get a TOAR and you’re good to go” “you need to get your 200 ton mate NC first” “you need to get your 200 to master NC first” “mate/master of towing is just an endorsement - you need to go get your tonnage license first” all too many times.
I understand it is an option and quicker to go 500/1600 ton route and shorten the training and observation period. I have also worked with/for people that still need training and observation after 25 years. I and a lot of other AB coworkers who are proficient on deck are ok getting paid 100k for a year of training if it means we will be slightly less green at the wheel.
The license and training for proficiency are two completely different things.
The fastest, cheapest, easiest, and best path to the license is: Mate 500 first, then Mate of Towing. That is what almost everyone does in the coastwise trade.
The apprentice mate method is typical in the Inland trade.
Acquiring the actual skills and developing proficiency mostly depend upon where you work and who you work with.
If they weren’t referring to someone that already had a 500 ton Mate license or larger they were an idiot.
Nope.
They’re technically all considered “endorsements” now. (The endorsement is what licenses you to operate the vessel.) You do not need a “tonnage license” to run most tugs, especially inland push boats.
If you work someplace that actually hires apprentice mates as apprentice mates then go for it. Most places I’m familiar with just keep you as a deckhand and expect you to train on the bridge during your off watch.
An extra benefit to that route is that then you have more options in a down market. If you’re towing on Western Rivers and get a 1600 ton Mate inland and a Western Rivers TOAR then you can easily move to other inland tugs if necessary (just get an inland TOAR) or dinner boats, or any other limited tonnage inland vessels.
In fact, if you work on Mississippi River boats that go to the lower Mississippi then you can get a 1,600 ton Mate Inland and complete both a Western Rivers and an Inland TOAR and get both Mate of Towing Western Rivers and Mate of Towing inland.
Not a Mississippi river company but we pull or push things up there regularly. Contract towing company with a few boats dredging. Some boats on longer term contracts with bulk barges. Lots of busy days and lots of down time. Lots of good diverse training opportunities and people to learn from.
We’ve been steady working since I’ve been employed but I understand what you mean about options in a down market. If the market turn down enough to stop dredging, then we’ve all got bigger things to worry about. Seems like there are lots of opportunities for work on 199 ton wire boats.
Most deckhands that work here and want to move up get their apprentice mate endorsement on a vacation, find a boat and captain that is willing to train, and start working as apprentice mate as soon as the endorsement is in their book. But we’ve all heard wild advice so I appreciate the concise answers!
