I have submitted my application for upgrade to 2nd mate. All of my sea time is from an FPSO that spent a good amount of time at anchor awaiting a contract, and on a drill ship that was being built in Singapore, and then transited to the Gulf of Mexico to work.
My main issue is that the evaluator is claiming that “sea time” is defined as days underway, and that all other activities, such as standing anchor watch (for whatever reason) or other operations that are not underway, do not count as “sea time.”
My understanding has always been, that from the time you arrive onboard and are employed as a Third Mate Unlimited and not moored to a dock for an extended amount of time, then you should be earning sea time.
A third mate’s responsibilities are a lot more involved than just standing a navigation watch. Right? Are you not entitled to sea time for time not underway?
I am aware of the CFR that discusses extended time in the shipyard and only receiving 1 for 3 only as a vessel superintendent or port engineer.
Basically my questin is, what is the definition of “sea time” as per U.S. C.F.R.s?
Basically, I’d have to agree with the evaluator. Being in Singapore awaiting delivery of a ship is not sea time. At anchor, not really, but you may get some credit. So you are a brand new third mate and now 365 - 400 days later think you are entitled to second mate? Time was sea time was hard to get. In fact for some folks it took years to gain enough sea time to advance, pay your dues and learn how to be a good third mate. The sea time will come.
Ps: a lot depends on how the sea time letter is written up.
There is a USCG policy letter regarding sea time on vessels that don’t get underway. It may have been superceded by something new, I have a hard time keeping track of policy changes. Anyway, here is a link so you can look at it for yourself:
It basically says that engineers can log all their time aboard as regular sea time (even tied up at the dock) for purposes of licensing upgrades. Deckies, unfortunately, are limited to using a max of 180 days of dock time towards an upgrade, and they can only count one out of three dock days as a “sea day”. Kind of a bummer, but I can almost see the logic behind it.
From experience, there is a point where time at the dock counts at a reduced rate… I want to say after three continuous weeks then it goes to 3 for 1. In school I remember a few friends getting screwed out of cadet observer sea time for something like this too.
Agreed that it all depends how it is written up. This particular one of mine specifically detailed time aboard vs. actual sea time accrued.
[QUOTE=sailorstew;113909]I have submitted my application for upgrade to 2nd mate. All of my sea time is from an FPSO that spent a good amount of time at anchor awaiting a contract, and on a drill ship that was being built in Singapore, and then transited to the Gulf of Mexico to work.
My main issue is that the evaluator is claiming that “sea time” is defined as days underway, and that all other activities, such as standing anchor watch (for whatever reason) or other operations that are not underway, do not count as “sea time.”
My understanding has always been, that from the time you arrive onboard and are employed as a Third Mate Unlimited and not moored to a dock for an extended amount of time, then you should be earning sea time.
A third mate’s responsibilities are a lot more involved than just standing a navigation watch. Right? Are you not entitled to sea time for time not underway?
I am aware of the CFR that discusses extended time in the shipyard and only receiving 1 for 3 only as a vessel superintendent or port engineer.
Basically my questin is, what is the definition of “sea time” as per U.S. C.F.R.s?[/QUOTE]
Good info. Don’t feel bad, I once took at job on an integrated tug. For eight months I didn’t get one day of sea time for upgrade. In those days the tonnage had to be in excess of 1000 tons. While the tug and barge were over 1000 tons, the tug was not. The USCG only counts the tug tonnage. ( or did then). I knew this going in, was a good job, few deep sea jobs to be had at that point in time. The good news was that I did get valuable bridge experience, just nothing for an upgrade. That’s the breaks.