? Sea-Service changes?

I am not sure but I would think 3 mate unlimited is inclusive of 500/1600 ton master. At least it was several years ago when I was working the gulf. I sailed with a 3rd that didn’t have the 1600 master printed on his ticket but it was understood that he could run master on any limited tonnage vessel with his ticket. Just like 1600 master allows you to run any tonnage under 1600 tons, ie., 500, 200, 100 ton master. Maybe rules have changed.
I will be seriously upset if they take away my oceans endorsement that I worked so hard for and spent so much of my personal money on. I am working inland towboats because the money is better right now and they were the only ones hiring when I was looking for a job. It’s bad enought that I have to renew my BST if i don’t get any offshore time in the next 5 years. but to take away my endorsements is bs. I can get on an offshore tug tomorrow and put a barge on the hawser just as easy as I can face up to a 15 barge tow today. You don’t lose those skills just because you havn’t used them in awhile. It is all transferable experience anyway. You have to walk your tug to put a barge on the hawser just like you have to walk your towboat to get faced up. Not exactly the same but very similar.
Most companies are going to make you demonstrate proficiency with one of their trusted captains before they turn you loose on multi million dollar equipment anyway. Why do the puddle pirates need to stick there nose in where it is not needed? They should be following practical examples set forth by the industry. Just like long before the cg came out with the appretice mate/steersman program, towboat companies would make you get your 2nd class outv, then first class pilot all while you were a steersman. only when your captain said you were ready were you turned loose on your own watch. The cg took note of this system and modeled their steersman/appretice mate program after it.
Somebody please give me a heads up if this rumor is true.I dont feel like reading all the legal jargon. I will get an offshore job before renewal if I have to. I am not loosing what I worked so hard for.
thanks
mike

Is this comment endorsed by the CG ?

Nope. 100 ton Master is part of 500/1600 mate and 3/M. When a 3/M bumps to 2/M he/she can take a crossover exam and the get 1600 master. Why they don’t extend the same courtesy to a 1600 Master is beyond me, but hey I’m just a sailor. The desk jockeys know better than I.

I sailed with a 3rd that didn’t have the 1600 master printed on his ticket but it was understood that he could run master on any limited tonnage vessel with his ticket.

Whatever you do, don’t mentioned this 3rd Mate’s name if he actually sailed Master above 100 tons during the time you alluded to…

Yet another reason for the NMC to print on your MMC what you actually are qualified to do, rather than leaving it up to interpretation.

Duh.

yeah Doug… I’m still a II/2 management still waiting for my II/1 operational so I can work mate on another flag state’s vessel…have already missed one opportunity!!

You know, they fill that god-damned MMC full of blank pages. Why in the world can’t they just print everything you’re qualified for? I know we’ve been down this path before but I’m so sick of it I have to spew again.

Mike B, 3/Mate, Oceans, AGT can only sail as Captain on 100Ton or less. I got a surprise yesterday. I received my MMC in the mail. About a month ago I sent in a copy of my new VSO certificate and they sent me an MMC in return! My license doesn’t expire until 2012. What’s the deal?

Ha ha, you don’t have a “license” anymore, pal. You’re now “credentialed”.

Bummer, ain’t it?

they did the same for me…only they didn’t get the MMC right the first time and had to make the corrections and reprint it…when I viewed the “document verification webb page” my old documents as well as my new MMC are listed as all being current and valid…go figure??

Yeah the verification site has potential, but it is too messy the way they present your information. I would never refer an employer to it, because they would just be too confused.

I have cut-and-pasted the correct info into a MS Word document, and sent that out. Much cleaner, but why the USCG thinks we should have to do that is beyond me.

Seadawg, I don’t know if this will help you but the day I received my 3rd Mate AGT sticker (11/24/09), I also received an STCW sticker with ll/1 on it. Prior to that I couldn’t get past the ll/2. The way I understand it, the reason I was not considered for ll/1 was because though I have been a Master Oceans 1600/3000 for many years, I was not a person in charge of a navigational watch till I got that 3rd Mate, though I think 1600 ton Mate also applies…go figure. I can’t explain it but and won’t even try to but I can let you another facet of the process through my experience…Good luck and PM me if I can be of any help…Steve

Thanks Capt A. Pisses me off dammit. I took a licensing test not a credential test. I don’t remember the coasties asking me if I approved of this change. Here’s how it reads anyhow: OINNW (3/M) VSO Valid for vessels operating in the GMDSS. Then next page has 3/M AGT, Oceans, Radar Observer (Unltd). First Class Pilot AGT between Duluth, Gary and Buffalo, Radar Observer (Unltd). Able Seaman, any waters, unltd, Lifeboatman, Stewards Dept. (FH), Wiper.
The STCW page has the following gobbletygook II/1; II/4; IV/2; VI/1; VI/2;VI/3; VI/4; VI/5. I have no idea what this means.

as I understand this…STCW “codes”…denotes II/1=OICNW/operational; II/4=RFPNW/support; IV/2=GMDSS; VI/1=Basic Safety Training; VI/2=Survival Craft; VI/3=Advanced Fire Fighting; VI/4=Medical Care Provider; VI/5=Vessel Security Officer.

**code II/2= Master/Chief Mate/management.

maybe he did have it printed on his ticket. He was an academy grad. Somehow he got it legally. He was only a 3rd this I know for sure. Maybe he sat for the 1600 ton mater too. But he did have his 1600 ton master or mate not sure. So there must be a way to get it before upgrading 3rd to 2nd. Maybe if you have the sea time and sit for the test?

yep all new licenses coming from nmc wv are in mmc form. You get to hang on to your old license. I hung on to mine just in case I get an employer that has not caught up to the times. Thanks for explaining stcw codes. Wasn’t sure wtf they meant either until now.