Dennis,
I was referred to you by Gcaptain.
I see that you offer a 100 to 200 ton upgrade course. I may have to come out there from Hawaii to do the class, do you recommend doing that? Or is it easier to just submit and test here in Honolulu?
Also, I am confused with sea time requirements. For a 100 ton to 200 ton upgrade, do I need 720 total days with 360 on my lic. as master or mate, with 180 days on vessels over 150 ton? Or 90 days on vessels over 150 ton?
I cant seem to figure out whether it is 90 or 180, and I get all different answers from other schools to even the Coast Guard…
Thanks!
Griffith
Griffith,
The requirements for Master 200 ton are often confused because two CRF parts need to be referenced.
The sea service requirements for Master 200 ton near coastal are contained in 46 CFR 10.426 and state that you need two years of total sea service. One year of the required service must have been as master or mate while holding a license.
The tonnage formula for licenses of less than 200 tons is contained in 46 CFR 10.422 and states that the tonnage limitations will be issued in 50 ton increments, rounded up. The limitation will be either the maximum tonnage that 25% of the qualifying experience was on or 150% of the maximum tonnage that 50% of the qualifying experience was on. Since two years of qualifying experience is required that means you need either 180 days on vessels over 150 tons OR 360 days on a vessel over 100 tons to qualify for a Master 200 ton license.
If you don’t have experience for a Master 200 ton you can qualify for a Master 150 ton near coastal with either 180 days on vessels over 100 tons or 360 days on vessels over 67 tons.
Note also that only one year of the qualifying experience must have been as master or mate while holding a license. This experience could have been on a 20 foot pleasure craft while the experience on the larger vessel could have been as a deckhand. There is no requirement that any of the qualifying experience be as master or mate of vessels over 100 tons.
The course I offer is four days ($600) and will satisfy the USCG exam requirements for upgrading a Master 100 ton near coastal license to master 200 tons near coastal. Anyone who qualifies for the license can self study and take the exams at the REC. The benefit of taking the class is you are finished in four days.
Good Sailing,
Dennis
