After months of discussion with my wife I have decided to that it is time to make a move from the
East Coast to the GOM . I think that it is the appropriate time in my life to further my career I currently have a 100 ton Masters license and iktoget my AB I currently currently qualify for a AB Special.( the only thing preventing me from AB unlimited is having my RFPNW) Is an AB Special enought to get me hired on as a AB or do I need the Unlimited rating? I have heard that if I get my AB that my starting pay will be better and i will have more opportunities to get my foot in the door. This is all new to me. Any career advice is greatly appreciated.
I bet c.captain can get u some advice…lol
I forgot to put in my previous post that I already have my STCW and I have my PSC class scheduled.
Since most everything down here is an OSV the AB special will suffice. However you need to get RFPNW to go with it in order to make companies look at you. Also consider crew boats with your 100 ton.
good luck
All that I had to do to get RFPNW after having and working on my 100 ton was to take the simulator assessments. I did it in Virginia Beach at Mid-Atlantic. Cost was $300 and it only took an hour or so. May want to look into it. The unlimited will help you stand out a little from the pack.
I dont believe you must have rfpnw for ab unlimited . Just bst and lifeboatman. Good Luck
Eco will not talk to you without the rfpnw.
Just go knock on doors. You’ll find a job.
Sounds great! I wilk look into the RFPNW simulator assessments. I have 1080 days of sea time for my AB unlimited but I don’t have 180 days of sea time on a vessel over 100tons. The simulator assessment sounds like a good solution. Thanks
180 days for the RFPNW
Neither will HOS
[QUOTE=“CurryAK;97730”]I dont believe you must have rfpnw for ab unlimited . Just bst and lifeboatman. Good Luck[/QUOTE]
I guess AB w/o rfpnw wii be restricted to stand part of navigational watch…to make it short he will be a deck slave…
I didn’t have a day over 99 tons when I got my Unlimited or my RFPNW. This was back in October 2012. Look at the checklist on the NMC website or call them.
I’ve been told even AB with out RFPNW can’t even sail as AB doing deck work
[QUOTE=captainjoseph;97740]Sounds great! I wilk look into the RFPNW simulator assessments. I have 1080 days of sea time for my AB unlimited but I don’t have 180 days of sea time on a vessel over 100tons. The simulator assessment sounds like a good solution. Thanks[/QUOTE]
Just find a job on a crewboat — preferably a DP crewboat.
I have a friend that has been working in the gulf for almost a year. He has a 100 ton license like myself but had to start as a deckhand to get started. He only makes $150/ day. He said that an AB starts around $250/ day . He is the one who suggested that I get my AB first. Does this sound correct? If so it seems that I should bite the bullet and spend a couple of grand to get more credentials and make it back on the first hitch. Does anyone have an idea of the day rate as a 100 tin capt. on a crew boat. With my transition I need to make as much money as possible to support my family.
I’d say go for the AB license, yes it’s worth it. What’s your friend working as? Is he sailing on his 100t master or is he working as an OS.
He is an OS. He has lot of experience from working on yachts in S. Fla. From the outside looking in it just seems to be a waste of a year in his career.
[QUOTE=captainjoseph;97760]He is an OS. He has lot of experience from working on yachts in S. Fla. From the outside looking in it just seems to be a waste of a year in his career.[/QUOTE]
I guess that all depends on any fringe benefits. . . .
At ECO an OS starts at $200.00 a day, an AB starts at $300.00, 100 ton crew boat captain starts at $350.00 depending on experience.