STCW on the Great Lakes,re: travel into Canada

Is it required or not??? I see that Canadain Salors that venture into the US waters (Great Lakes) have to have it.

No you will not need an STCW to work on the lakes for U.S. companies. But most companies fuel at the Canadian fuel docks and the canadians can be real tuff on DUI convictions. If you don’t have any criminal charges against you including DUI you are good with Canadian immigration. All you need for documentation is MMD, and TWIC and license if appropriate for the job you are seeking. Who are you thinking of shipping out with.

Best of luck.

I don’t believe STCW is required for US mariners on the lakes, but not being a lakes mariner I’m really not sure. Even if STCW is not required, some companies may require it just because they can. I don’t know if the Canadians have to have it, or have just chosen to have it.

Their is no requirement for STCW on the lakes, nor will any American company here want you to have it because they can. As far as the Canadians having it here, i’m not sure, but i have never heard that before.

The lakes are a good place to work for the most part. However, if you go work for Grand River bring lots of lube with you, otherwise it will hurt much more.

Found out, NO not requiried for US mariners on the Great Lakes, even though some pass into canida. Canooks on ships that pass into US waters have to have it.

I have been hearing that some Lake companies are starting to “strongly encourage” employees to get their RFPNW and RFPEW. Will having STCW ratings make you more employable to these companies? I always thought they would prefer those without as you would be more likely to stick around.

The Great Lakes are more like a cold rough ocean than typical “inland” home waters, and they straddle a long international border… The Canadian licensing system is based upon the British system (i.e., STCW). I suspect that the Canada is probably negotiating with the US to implement STCW on the Great Lakes. I can see where American companies might anticipate STCW coming to the lakes. Or it could be that international insurance companies want Great Lakes operators to upgrade to STCW standards.

While it is possible to be viewed by someone as “overqualified,” more often it is to one’s advantage to bring more qualifications to the table rather than less.

[QUOTE=Rebel_Rider1969;72859]Found out, NO not requiried for US mariners on the Great Lakes, even though some pass into canida. Canooks on ships that pass into US waters have to have it.[/QUOTE]

It’s from a reciprocal agreement between the US and Canada. If A mariner’s credential is valid for servbice in their own country, it will be accepted in the other country.