Sir, my name is John, and I was trying too find out about upgrading to a 200 ton master, but am a little confused, maybe you could explain it a little better for me. I recieved my 100 ton master n/c lic. back in 06. at the time of all this I was working as and a/b unl. on a vessel over 1500 tons. I recieved my capt. indorsement by august. I kept working as and a/b with the promise of being placed as a captain on 1 of thier smaller vessel. which never happened. I left there and got hired as a captain and been doing it ever sinse. but nothing over 90 tons. Sir I have over 203.5, 12 hours days=305, and 363.5, 12 hours=545 days and counting. as captain. the bottom line is I read where you have to have the tonnage in the last 3 yrs. is this true. thanks for your time Sir. by the way when getting my lic. I renewed my stcw, and a/b. all need to be renewed by august 2011. Thanks again
John,
It sounds like you have plenty of sea service experience to upgrade your license from Master 100 tons to Master 200 tons. Here are the requirements:
Qualifying experience for the Master 200 ton near coastal license is two years on ocean waters (the GOM counts as ocean waters); one year of experience on the Great Lakes or inland waters may be used to meet this qualifying experience. One year of the qualifying experience must have been as master or mate while holding a license.
From what you say you have plenty of qualifying experience.
Tonnage limitations for licenses of 200 tons and less are issued in 50 ton increments rounding up based on the formula of either the maximum tonnage that 25% of your qualifying experience was on OR 150% of the maximum tonnage that 50% of your qualifying experience was on. This means that to qualify for a Master 200 ton license you need either 180 days on vessels over 150 tons or 360 days on vessels over 100 tons; to qualify for a Master 150 ton license you need either 180 days on vessels over 100 tons or 360 days on vessels over 67 tons.
From what you say you have plenty of qualifying tonnage.
The recent sea service requirement is 90 days of experience on vessels of appropriate size within the past three years.
Since you did not specify any dates of employment I cannot determine if any of your tonnage on vessels over 100 tons was in the past three years, but even if it is not you should still qualify for a Master 150 ton license based on your experience operating vessels under the authority of your Master 100 ton license. The Master 150 ton license can be easily upgrade to Master 200 ton without testing by gaining sea service experience operating vessels between 100 and 150 tons.
Good Sailing,
Dennis
