I am trying to upgrade my USCG License from 2nd Mate Unlimited/1600 Masters to Chief Mate/Master. The problem is I have been working foreign flagged vessels for over 10+ years. Will the USCG accept the assessments signed off using Foreign Flagged Masters or do I have to use USCG Chief Mates/Masters? I called the REC several times and got several different answers so now I am confused. It looks like there are 53 Assessments to get signed off on and 14 have to be done onboard. Also can anyone tell me where I can download anymore of the Assessment sheets as I am out.
[QUOTE=tobagorum;84738]I am trying to upgrade my USCG License from 2nd Mate Unlimited/1600 Masters to Chief Mate/Master. The problem is I have been working foreign flagged vessels for over 10+ years. Will the USCG accept the assessments signed off using Foreign Flagged Masters or do I have to use USCG Chief Mates/Masters? I called the REC several times and got several different answers so now I am confused. It looks like there are 53 Assessments to get signed off on and 14 have to be done onboard. Also can anyone tell me where I can download anymore of the Assessment sheets as I am out.[/QUOTE]
Why not just give it a try and see how it goes? Always better to ask for forgiveness than permission.
Thanks for your reply. I was just wondering if anyone else has done this and if there were any stumbling blocks along the way.
This might be an instance when paying a license consultant might be a smart choice.
K.C.
I used Andy Hammond last time I renewed as I on a tight schedule. He’s out of Boston. He was very efficient and helpful.
Thanks for the name I found him on the internet and sent him a short email explaining my situation.
I would definitely find out before you waste your time. I know that they check the license numbers of the people who sign them to verify that they are who they say they are and hold a valid license. Awful hard to do that from a foreign license.
I don’t think they can unless the person signing has a CM or higher. Additionally osv is a restricted license. A CM or a M can not sign a large OSV assessment unless he/she has a large OSV license and designated to sign a large OSV assessment.
Why would the USCG accept a signature from a guy/gal who has never qualified and tested as a CM/M? I would not waste my time. Call the REC or e-mail the NMC and get an answer instead of guessing. You do not want to put forth the effort and then start again.
[QUOTE=tobagorum;84738]I am trying to upgrade my USCG License from 2nd Mate Unlimited/1600 Masters to Chief Mate/Master. The problem is I have been working foreign flagged vessels for over 10+ years. Will the USCG accept the assessments signed off using Foreign Flagged Masters or do I have to use USCG Chief Mates/Masters? I called the REC several times and got several different answers so now I am confused. It looks like there are 53 Assessments to get signed off on and 14 have to be done onboard. Also can anyone tell me where I can download anymore of the Assessment sheets as I am out.[/QUOTE]
The answer is No, don’t waste your time. You need to get a US CM/M to sign you off. Many guys in the oil patch are finding this difficult overseas on rigs as well, because of the different nationalities of the crews and officers onboard. It sucks, but it is what it is.
[QUOTE=PDCMATE;84987]The answer is No, don’t waste your time. You need to get a US CM/M to sign you off. Many guys in the oil patch are finding this difficult overseas on rigs as well, because of the different nationalities of the crews and officers onboard. It sucks, but it is what it is.[/QUOTE]
I can say this with certainty, because there were US 2nd Mates onboard another drillship with my company, and they have foreign Captains and CMs, they asked if they could sign off their control sheets using the foreign master/cm license, and then if they could send them to me and I could counter sign with my license, I asked the NMC and received confirmation that it had to be a US licensed witnessing and signing for these assessments.
Been there. Done that. Didn’t even get a T-Shirt. I did get my Ch Mate, but only because my Company brought in a US Master to sign me off. USCG reason for not allowing foreign sign-of- too hard to prosecute them for fraud, whereas - they know they can end our careers and put us behind bars without much effort.
Remember that when doing assessments- PENCIL WHIP NOTHING. PM me your number and I’ll give details (too hard to type on this phone)