(US) trying to find out if I qualify for these endorsements and I'm getting mixed results

Maritime Topics Maritime Training & Licensing
1

I’ve been trying to see if I qualify for Able Seafarer Deck under the new temporary rules:

I have about 600 Sea Days working as deckhand on small vessels. around 25grt-50grt.

I believe this qualifies me for Able Seaman Unlimited under the new rules, and in this letter under part 5.

d. For those seeking AS-D with 18 months or more of service:

  1. Complete assessments for RFPNW and AS-D.
  2. Meet the qualifications for PSC or PSC-Limited
  3. May obtain endorsements as AS-D, RFPNW, and PSC or PSC-Limited.

It sounds like I can qualify for RFPNW and AS-D with my 18 months of sea time. As long as I take the appropriate classes and pass the assessments and qualify for PSC.

So far I’ve talked to union SIU, they said I wouldn’t be able to go this route and I should go apprenticeship program. So I signed up and got accepted into apprenticeship program, on part 2 but I have not gotten a class date yet. I’ve talked to MM-Seas they also told me I would not qualify. I talked to someone who was in the same boat as me and they said they were able to get AS-D under the new rules with small boat sea time as deckhand. And I’ve talked to MPT in fort lauderdale and they said I would qualify under the new rules, although I will need a sign off from an assessor. or someone holding a certain level of endorsements. (the former captains I have worked with do not hold those endorsements.

Might anyone be able to shed some light or give their 2 cents on the subject?

I would do the SIU apprenticeship program but I really can’t wait around for a year + just to start the program which will take another year+ to get my AB. And it seems like a bit of a waste if I can already obtain AS-D with my sea time… On the other hand, I am considering an AS-D bundle of classes at MPT that costs $4200 and lasts about 3 weeks, and I’m concerned even if I do get my endorsements through this, that I won’t be up-to-par with what boats/companies expect from an endorsed AS-D. I’m very comfortable being a deckhand on small boats, working out of the harbor but of course the large sea-going vessels I’m looking to get into are another type of beast entirely.

But the main thing I need to be sure of is if I qualify for the endorsements with my sea time and with the class bundle at MPT. Which MPT says I will, but again the union and MM-Seas told me otherwise and I’m unsure who is correct.

MPT will provide me with my NVIC sign offs, but they said I’ll still need an assessor or a mate of a certain GRT tonnage to sign off as well and I’m not sure how I will be able to get that.

I’ll take any advice or insights I can get. Appreciated.

I wanted to go to Maritime Academy, Cal Maritime. But my highschool GPA is lacking and I don’t have all the required courses completed like upper levels of math and 2 years of language etc… They told me I would have to go to Junior College first, complete all the required courses I missed in Highschool AND get a total of 60 credits before I could get accepted into Cal Maritime as a transfer and then begin the 4 year program, which would take me like 6 years in total. Which is why I’m just looking at entering in as unlicensed AS-D

2

You’re talking about two different endorsements:

AB Unlimited is a national endorsement and you’ll need 540 days on oceans or GL to qualify

Where was your fishing time?

For ASD it looks like you need 12 months deck work and must be qualified for a national ab rating.

I always thought you needed time sailing with RFPNW and not just course but I think I’m wro
Reach out to the NMC tell them your seatime, tonnage and route and see what you qualify for. You can also hire a consultant, but that’s basically what MM Seas is anyways, so if they’re telling you no, then they’re probably right.

Also, how old are you? Have you looked at other maritime academies? If you want to make a career of sailing, you’ll thank yourself in ten years by going to an academy. Maybe the admissions have changed at Cal, but I always assumed their acceptance rate was ridiculously high. There are some two year programs that will get you a license as well. Don’t give up on those options. MITAGS, SUNY, A&M, etc…

3

Yes I qualify for AB-Unlimited my 600 days of deckhand are on Ocean.

The ones I am unsure of under the recent changes as of October 2024 in the recent policy letter changes are AS-D and RFPNW.

https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/NMC/pdfs/checklists/mcp_fm_nmc5_220_web.pdf

on the RFPNW checklist it notes at the table at the bottom “Entry path from national endorsements” " Sea service under authority of the endorsement (note 1)" “None”.

and then on the policy letter I linked in post,
" d. For those seeking AS-D with 18 months or more of service: 1. Complete assessments for RFPNW and AS-D. 2. Meet the qualifications for PSC or PSC-Limited 3. May obtain endorsements as AS-D, RFPNW, and PSC or PSC-Limited"

And again on the AS-D Checklist
https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/NMC/pdfs/checklists/mcp_fm_nmc5_219_web.pdf?ver=

At the very bottom it says similar “Sea service required under authority of this endorsement: None” for AB - unlimited.

The recent temporary changes lasting until Dec 2026 are the only reason I might qualify right now. Before these temporary changes I 100% would not qualify. I just find the wording in the checklists and the policy letters confusing and am not 100% sure of my assumption that I qualify.

4

They spell out at the bottom what you need to get signed off by shipboard personnel, If you want to sail deep sea. You have enough seatime it looks like for the national endorsement, so I would go ahead and apply for that. You’ll have to sail as an os for anything stcw and then you can work on getting your ASD. Mind you, getting BT, PSC med certificate etc etc is going to take a while, like months to get it back from the NMC so I would apply for your AB and go from there. You won’t be able to sail period without an MMC. Do you have that? Remember MPT is a business so they are eager to sign people up. Your best bet is to go join a union or join MSC. You can advance quickly with them.

There is/was depending on what you believe a mariner shortage, so the USCG lowered everything to entice people. You’re right though, sailing on a fishing boat is quite different than a tanker or cargo ship, so you’ll have to start at the bottom.

Again, if you’re under 40, I’d consider an academy. It will make your life so much easier…

5

Thank you for the response. My previous MMC is expired. Master OUPV (6pak), OS, Wiper, Towing. I could renew it but it has none of the endorsements I am after.

I was accepted into SIU apprentice program, but again it takes like a year to get a class date, I just sent in my step 2 anyways as a backup plan.

in the STCW - RFPNW checklist it states

“If both Able Seaman and RFPNW are requested at the same time; then, the applicant must meet all requirements for
AB (including, examination) to be exempted from presenting the watch standing service.”

I qualify for AB-unlimited with my 600+ days of seatime as deckhand. So as I read it I can be “…exempted from presenting the watch standing service.” or the further sea time for this endorsement?

and then as for the AS-D it also shows at the bottom:

“Table 1 to 12.603(e) – STCW Endorsement as Able Seafarer Deck
Modified by Policy Letter 02-24
Use Only For
Applications processed between 22 December 2023 and 22 December 2026”
Able Seaman - Unlimited
“Sea service under the authority of the endorsement” “None”

Am I misinterpreting these checklist changes?

I’ll try to contact NMC tomorrow to see if I can get a definitive answer. But the way I read it, basically I need 18 months as deckhand and I need national AB unlimited. And no additional seatime for STCW AS-D and RFPNW, which is what has changed temporarily until dec 2026? IDK though.

MPT told me they will do all the NVIC sign offs, but I will still need a sign off for my RFNPW.

I do plan to join a union or possibly MSC. If I don’t qualify for the AS-D I’m after right now, I’ll probably just end up going through apprenticeship program and waiting for a class date and start from the bottom like you said. But if I can get these endorsements I can have a big leg up and jump in as unlicensed AS-D

I only checked Cal Maritime and I cannot get in until I do 60 credits at a junior college, and required classes so I can come in as a transfer. And then it would be 4 more years on top… so like 6 or even 7 years in total. I’m only a few years away from 40 so that’s really too much time. If I could get accepted into academy and just do my 4 at the academy I would probably do it, but I slacked off in Highschool and have low GPA and don’t have required classes for state uni.