i was wondering if i can use my osv endorsement inland or is it only good for offshore supply vessels?
It’s only valid on OSVs.
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You are the patron saint of patience.
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Amen to that!
…as a side note, this is a perfect example of why an OSV license is pretty useless unless you want to be stuck in the oilfield your whole career. On the deck side, get that 1600T and then get that Unlimited and have some options when oil tanks again.
The same could be said for Mate/Master of Towing Vessels, those are limited to towing vessels. Also, the path to Being able to work as Mate or Master on a towing vessel takes less sea time via Mate 500 than it does from Apprentice Mate/Steersman.
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Why don’t you upgrade, should never be satisfied with a license, use them for a stepping stone to the next one
Isn’t it long past time to phase out the OSV licenses?
Stop issuing new OSV licenses. Come up with a reasonable and practical upgrade path and stop renewing OSV licenses.
It really doesn’t bother me that the CG issues trade specific licenses to mariners who are only trained to work one type of vessel. I know for a fact that many N.Y. harbor tug boaters don’t want the factory worker mindset mariners from the GOM working in N.Y. harbor. And the more technological advanced OSV’ers aren’t too anxious to have the laid back fishing boat mentality wire boat mariners from the west coast in the oil field when on contract with the big oil majors. People usually get in where they fit in, there’s nothing wrong with that IMO. The USCG is just helping the process by isseuing these trade restricted licenses.
Do you mind giving your point of view, explaining why you want OSV guys working in your industry & why you feel officers with only towing & pushing experience on small ancient tugs should be able to jump on a DP2 class vessel & start pumping dry bulk to a semisubmersible?
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Why? You’re arguing to go back to licenses only being valid in one local area, and saying that running between Fourchon and a rig should be real sea time. You’re contradicting yourself.
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Not at all. Doing away with the OSV trade restriction has nothing to do with geographic areas. One would either have a 1600 GRT license, or an unlimited tonnage license.
I would like to see broad geographic area limitations: West Coast, East Coast, Gulf of Mexico, and Alaska on near coastal licenses up to 1600 GRT, but not for unlimited licenses or limited tonnage licenses endorsed for Oceans. For someone with a near coastal limited tonnage license making a jump from one coast to another, 60 days of local seatime would be reasonable to get endorsed for another area.
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Now that’s an idea I could definitely get behind.
There’s no significant difference between Oceans and Near Coastal except for one exam module. Why should they’re be such a limit on the NC license?
All that would do is reduce competition for jobs on any coast. Do you really think 60 days service around the Carolinas equals recency and local knowledge for New York?
Why don’t we request that OCMIs begin endorsing MMCs as second class pilot for their respective zone and in order to operate a vessel under 1,600 GRT in their zone without a pilot onboard the officers must have that endorsement?
No chart sketch required but you have an interview with the OCMI explaining your local experience, present letters from your company detailing your local service, and be interviewed on or tested on your local knowledge.
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Not me, I’ve seen too many square pegs trying to fit into round holes. With our current system, those who want to carry the scarlet letters of only DDE, only OSV or only towing on their licenses are easily identifiable as specific trade mariners to crewing & HR managers. Those who want to be more diverse mariners apply themselves to get different endorsements & experiences. I have read & understand your opinion of GOM OSV mariners. Getting rid of OSV licenses will not get rid of GOM OSV mariners, it would probably just spread them around more.
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While no system is perfect and there are exceptions to every rule, a couple of things come to mind:
Oceans authorizes worldwide service. No practical way to add an overlay of US local knowledge requirements.
In general, Mariners who have made the effort to get Oceans tend to be a cut above the near coastal guys. Yes, I can think of many exceptions.
I don’t know much about engineering licenses, but it seems like there are too many different licenses with few practical distinctions.
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It would be a possible assumption that the OP got his chief osv like myself and others have, issued along with a dde license. If that is the case, plenty of tug companies want ddes…these days more so than not. Unlicensed engineers on tugs are becoming less and less…
To the OP, if the above isnt your case, I would see what non trade restricted license you can sit for with your seatime.
exactly.
Even if you hold a DDE, should still upgrade, in a way, a DDE is a trade restricted license as is the OSV, depending on the license, unlimited or 4000, you are stuck. Get everything you can, when seatime allows
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