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The 50th annual Marine Transportation and 85th Veterans Steamboatmen’s picnic will be from 10AM to 6PM on August 1, 2010. This picnic will feature:
If you would like to donate items it would be greatly appreciated. Please contact James Kenneyat (360) 910-0186.
For more information visit the Columbia River Mariner.
A maritime community were mariners can communicate with other mariners regarding:
What do I need to do to get the Mate of Towing (Pilot) endorsement?
There are three ways to get a Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels endorsement.
When you get ready to take the exams please give me a call. I have an approved course for the apprentice mate exams and I can provide the Radar Observer course.
Hello, I am trying to figure out what my best course of action is to receive the licensing that I need to run tow vesseles under 200 tons. I would like to take your class for 200 ton mate and the tow apprentece if these are the first steps towards that. I have been approved to test by the coast guard for both. please let me know if this is the correct way to go about it. If so, I would like to schedule those 2 courses. Thank you
The two courses you are considering would meet the USCG exam requirements for upgrading an existing Master 100 ton license to Mate 200 ton and Apprentice Mate (steersman). The cost of the two course is $900 and they can be completed in six days.
If you need to take the Master 100 ton class this will increase the total cost by $1,100 and require an additional 10 days of classroom time.
If you want to give me a call I will be happy to discuss your options and make sure you get into the correct classes.
I was wanting to know what all needs to be done/completed before I am able to sign up to take the classes for the 64-hour OUPV Course. Thank you.
There are no requirements for taking the 64-hour OUPV course. However, it is advisable to document your qualifying experience of 360 days and to get your TWIC.
Currently the next two classes are booked full. There is some spots available in the May 31st class and the classes that follow this class in June. I would recommend that you call and talk to Pat. She can get your name on the schedule. Then get the rest of your application requirements together while you are waiting for the class. In fact you can turn your application into the USCG before completing the class and then just fax or mail the certificate after taking the class. This can save you some time.
It appears that some individuals are just now thinking about getting an OUPV license for the summer ocean tuna fishing season. There is still time, but you need to start the process NOW! Here is how you can make this happen.
I still have a few openings in the June OUPV classes, but you need to get started with the application process NOW to have the license for this summer’s tuna season.
Maritime jobs are transportation based and when consumer products are not selling the industry suffers. In tuff economic times like this maritime jobs can be some of the first jobs lost and some of the last jobs gained back during the recovery. In this current recovery period maritime employment opportunities can be difficult to find, but certainly not impossible if you are open minded about the “what, when, where and how much” details of the job. If you are looking for employment in the maritime industry I recommend contacting Captain Kelly Sweeney at Maritime Headhunters. Captain Sweeney is a straight shooter that will get you sailing again with plans for future advancement.
The really good news regarding maritime employment is the opportunity for advancement over the next few years. In the last two years over 100 licensed captains and mates from all around the nation have completed the one day radar renewal class at Columbia Pacific Maritime in preparation for their five year license renewal. Conversations with these mariners indicate that many of them are planning to retire before their license comes up for renew again (within 5-years) and over half plan on retiring after their next renewal (within 10-years). This means that in the next few years there will be opportunities for advancement from deck positions to mate and from mate to master for mariners holding the appropriate credentials. Now is the time to get credentialed up so that when these captain and mate jobs become available you have the Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC) to qualify for them. Here are a few things to consider if you are interested in advancing in the maritime field.
First and foremost, every career minded mariner working on deck should hold an MMC as Able Seaman (AB). This credential is important for career advancement regardless of whether or not you hold a license. The Able Seaman Special rating requires 360 days of sea service experience on the deck of vessels and completion of the four Basic Safety Training courses and a Proficiency in Survival Craft (or Lifeboatman) course. Anyone that holds a license as master, mate or OUPV should have the sea service experience to qualify for this rating.
If you hold an MMC as AB and do not have a master or mate’s license get one. With the same sea service experience that was used to qualify for the AB rating can you can qualify for a license as Master or Mate. If you are working on a sea going vessel greater than 200 gross registered tons (GRT) you should consider completing the proficiencies for the STCW 95 Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW); RFPNW checklist / RFPNW sea service. These proficiencies can be signed off by the officer of the watch and turned into the Coast Guard to get the STCW 95 rating.
If you are working on or have experience working on a towing vessel you should consider getting the Apprentice Mate (steersman) license. This is one of three methods to advance to Mate of Towing and from there to Master of Towing. The towing industry in particular will be in need of captain’s and mate’s as these ship’s officers begin retiring in the next few years.
If you have your sights on a sea going job as master or mate of vessels over 200 gross registered tons you will be required to complete several courses to qualify for the STCW 95 rating of Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch (OCNW). These courses can be completed one at a time between trips as you have the time and money available.
Whatever you career choice is for maritime employment, now is the time to position yourself for the good jobs that will becoming available over the next few years. It is the mariner with the credentials in hand when the job becomes available that will advance to the captain’s chair.
This website is maintained by Columbia Pacific Maritime LLC and contains frequently updated content.
Frequently Asked Questions regarding the US Coast Guard license system for Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC), updates and changes to the MMC system, maritime employment information, Columbia Pacific Maritime school information and comments from my alumni are posted here as they become available..
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Thank you for your interest.
Dennis Degner
