So I understand when it comes to unlimited licensing, you need 1080 days at sea before you can take exams to become a third mate. How many days as a deckhand or AB working onboard a tug do you need to upgrade to a limited deck license?
720 eight-hour days, 90 of those as a watchstander (the checklist doesn’t specify AB or OS) and half of total time on a vessel over 50 grt for a 500 grt mate.
720 eight-hour days, 180 of those days as a watchstander (like above, the checklist doesn’t specify as an AB or OS) and half of total days on a vessel over 100 grt for a 1600 grt mate.
Go to the NMC website to see if i am right or wrong, because i may be mistaken or misinterpreted the checklists (best you get acquainted with the checklists) All the checklists are there for future reference.
NATIONAL ABLE SEAMAN § 12.401
AB Unlimited – 1080 days deck service on Oceans or Great Lakes.
It takes the same number of days to get a 3rd Mates license just a lot more classes and study. You can do both at same time. Get the book “The New Hawsepipe” by Leonard Lambert. Shows how to do both at same time.