# Rfpnw **URL:** \ **Category:** Professional Mariner Forum\ **Created:** [November 17, 2008, 3:54pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641 "2008-11-17T15:54:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![anchorman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/bbce88/32.png) [@anchorman](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/anchorman)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2009, 7:19am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/21 "2009-10-30T07:19:51Z")
[QUOTE=trekleader;20269]Robert You are entirely correct, I don’t know how I missed the obvious…[/QUOTE] The CG did not want green mates signing assessments, which makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Marlowe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bcef8e/32.png) [@Marlowe](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Marlowe)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2010, 7:02am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/22 "2010-01-08T07:02:02Z")
> [@jdcavo;4799](#): > > The options for obtaining RFPNW are either 180 days service performing navigational watch functionsw under supervision of the OICNW (not just sea time) and completion of the assessments, OR completion of a USCG approved RFPNW… Can the 180 days have been obtained before STCW came into effect? ---
**Author:** ![seadawg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@seadawg](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/seadawg)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2010, 7:30am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/23 "2010-01-08T07:30:02Z")
Marlowe, if you don’t already have these??you might find them useful?? [http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/checklists/MCP-FM-NMC5-62%20RFPNW.pdf?list1=checklists%2FMCP-FM-NMC5-62+RFPNW.pdf&B1=GO%21](http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/checklists/MCP-FM-NMC5-62%20RFPNW.pdf?list1=checklists%2FMCP-FM-NMC5-62+RFPNW.pdf&B1=GO%21) [http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/marpers/pag/14-02.pdf](http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/marpers/pag/14-02.pdf) ---
**Author:** ![Shellback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Shellback](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Shellback)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2010, 8:02am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/24 "2010-01-08T08:02:40Z")
Isn’t it funny, how this topic just never seems to go away? I use to think it was my own lack of comprehension, of 14-02, so I packed a copy of it around with me for months and read passages from it every chance I got…It seemed to help…But I realize that I am not the only one that has had questions on this… As I come to the end of my 180 days (10 ) more to go…I still can’t help but think this is one of the most poorly written, and excessive requirements of STCW that I have ran across…Just an opinion, of course… ---
**Author:** ![trekleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/58956e/32.png) [@trekleader](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/trekleader)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2010, 6:11pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/25 "2010-01-08T18:11:09Z")
[QUOTE=Marlowe;24205]Can the 180 days have been obtained before STCW came into effect?[/QUOTE] In some cases, yes. If you can show qualifying service between 1 Oct 86 and 30 Sep 91, you’re golden. (I think) Reference NMC Policy Letter 14-02 [http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/marpers/pag/14-02.pdf](http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/marpers/pag/14-02.pdf) at ‘9’ it says: This STCW certification may be issued to any mariner who provides proof of one year of sea service in a relevant capacity within the deck department between 1 October 1986 and 30 September 1991 without requiring completion of the assessments of skills. Completion of basic safety training is required. ---
**Author:** ![Shellback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Shellback](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Shellback)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 3:18am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/26 "2010-01-09T03:18:52Z")
[quote=trekleader;24312]In some cases, yes. If you can show appropriate service between 1 Oct 86 and 30 Sep 91, you’re golden. (I think) Reference NMC Policy Letter 14-02 [http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/marpers/pag/14-02.pdf](http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/marpers/pag/14-02.pdf) at ‘9’ it says: This STCW certification may be issued to any mariner who provides proof of one year of sea service in a relevant capacity within the deck department between 1 October 1986 and 30 September 1991 without requiring completion of the assessments of skills. Completion of basic safety training is required.[/quote] I have asked several people why that particular time frame makes a difference, does any one know? I never did get an answer… ---
**Author:** ![seadawg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@seadawg](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/seadawg)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 4:03am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/27 "2010-01-09T04:03:04Z")
> [@Shellback;24346](#): > > I have asked several people why that particular time frame makes a difference, does any one know? I never did get an answer… believe pre-STCW and “grandfathering” may be relevant here?? ---
**Author:** ![Shellback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Shellback](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Shellback)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 4:22am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/28 "2010-01-09T04:22:28Z")
> [@seadawg;24348](#): > > believe pre-STCW and “grandfathering” may be relevant here?? It’s a 5 year window, I guess that would make the most sense,my question was why not anything previous of Oct 86? My evaluator tried this angle with me and we hit a road block,I got out of the Navy in April 86… Day late and a dollar short…:cool: ---
**Author:** ![seadawg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@seadawg](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/seadawg)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 4:36am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/29 "2010-01-09T04:36:10Z")
> [@Shellback;24350](#): > > It’s a 5 year window, I guess that would make the most sense,my question was why not anything previous of Oct 86? My evaluator tried this angle with me and we hit a road block,I got out of the Navy in April 86… possibly has something to do with the NMC’s concept of “recency”?? ---
**Author:** ![Shellback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Shellback](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Shellback)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 7:55am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/30 "2010-01-09T07:55:33Z")
[QUOTE=seadawg;24352]possibly has something to do with the NMC’s concept of “recency”??[/QUOTE] You have an answer for everything…Next time I am helping with the son’s high school Calculus and run into a problem I am sending him to you.😃 ---
**Author:** ![seadawg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@seadawg](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/seadawg)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 8:44am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/31 "2010-01-09T08:44:49Z")
> [@Shellback;24366](#): > > You have an answer for everything…Next time I am helping with the son’s high school Calculus and run into a problem I am sending him to you.😃 that’s pretty scary…wish I did…most of what I post on here should be considered as merely opinion and hypothesis…prefer that readers derive their own conclusions…BTW I will pass on the calculus;)!! ---
**Author:** ![Texaco](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/texaco/32/5750_2.png) [@Texaco](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Texaco)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 10:35am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/32 "2010-01-09T10:35:21Z")
Shellback, I’m with you. This is the most insane thing involving STCW. I mean, 180 days of 8 hour watches to steer a ship(5\* stbd, aye; steady, aye; check her, aye–steady course —, shift the rudder, aye) and stand lookout (contact bearing —\*, contact, 2 points off the stbd bow). I forget how long Navy quals for the same thing, but less than a week and that included position angles(aircraft) and target angles(contacts course relative to yours). The first time I steered a commercial ship was a loaded tanker up the Houston Ship Chanel. I don’t get it. BTW, I have the sea time in the exempted time frame, just need to get an eval to qualify it. And nothing else I had got grandfathered. ??? ---
**Author:** ![Shellback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Shellback](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Shellback)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 11:07am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/33 "2010-01-09T11:07:48Z")
[QUOTE=RkyMtn Paul;24381]Shellback, I’m with you. This is the most insane thing involving STCW. I mean, 180 days of 8 hour watches to steer a ship(5\* stbd, aye; steady, aye; check her, aye–steady course —, shift the rudder, aye) and stand lookout (contact bearing —\*, contact, 2 points off the stbd bow). I forget how long Navy quals for the same thing, but less than a week and that included position angles(aircraft) and target angles(contacts course relative to yours). The first time I steered a commercial ship was a loaded tanker up the Houston Ship Chanel. I don’t get it. BTW, I have the sea time in the exempted time frame, just need to get an eval to qualify it. And nothing else I had got grandfathered. ???[/QUOTE] On my ship, the quals were less than a week. you stood watch with the helmsman,usually an E-3 or below from the deck dept. With the Boatsnmate of the watch E-4 and above, looking over your shoulder…The OOD and JOOD ready to chew your ass if you were off by more than a couple of degrees…It seemed to work very effectively… I like the way you phrased the 180 days of 8 hour watches, instead of 180 days of navigational watch standing…It’s easy to misinterpret what is required… ---
**Author:** ![Texaco](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/texaco/32/5750_2.png) [@Texaco](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Texaco)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2010, 11:17am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/34 "2010-01-09T11:17:46Z")
As a signalman on a destroyer that did a lot of independent steaming, like 90%, we were the lookouts. Trained many a seaman in the duties, including ‘mail buoy’. LOL Even got to steer the ol’ girl around a bit, but never got PQS signed off. Fun watching OODs and JOODs maneuver for ‘man overboard’ drills. ---
**Author:** ![trekleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/58956e/32.png) [@trekleader](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/trekleader)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 8:23pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/35 "2010-01-11T20:23:18Z")
Army guy here… Whats the ‘mail buoy’ reference? ---
**Author:** ![skycowboy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@skycowboy](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/skycowboy)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 10:50pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/36 "2010-01-11T22:50:01Z")
The mail buoy is a fictional buoy where the mail would be left for the ship. Seeings as it didn’t exist, you could have newbies spend hours looking for it. ---
**Author:** ![seadawg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3da27b/32.png) [@seadawg](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/seadawg)\ **Post date:** [January 11, 2010, 11:13pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/37 "2010-01-11T23:13:18Z")
don’t forget…“bucket of wheelwash”, “sky hook”, relative bearing grease, and “calibrating the radar”!!😃 ---
**Author:** ![Shellback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Shellback](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Shellback)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 1:15am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/38 "2010-01-12T01:15:41Z")
[QUOTE=skycowboy;24637]The mail buoy is a fictional buoy where the mail would be left for the ship. Seeings as it didn’t exist, you could have newbies spend hours looking for it.[/QUOTE] Navy’s version of the Snipe hunt… ---
**Author:** ![Shellback](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Shellback](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Shellback)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 5:11am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/40 "2010-01-12T05:11:28Z")
[quote=jdcavo;24682] Let me know if you find out. I’ve been wondering the same thing…[/quote] I sure will JD, but for, now my money is on Seadawgs answer, he was right on about the BOOBs thing, more than a handful " is " a waste…So until he is proved otherwise…😃 ---
**Author:** ![Texaco](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/texaco/32/5750_2.png) [@Texaco](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/Texaco)\ **Post date:** [January 12, 2010, 5:34am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641/41 "2010-01-12T05:34:08Z")
Please don’t dig to hard, they may take it away. Wait a year so I can get things covered first. Thanks.:rolleyes: [Previous page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641.md?page=1) [Next page](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/rfpnw/641.md?page=3)