Maritime News

I will begin offering an online license prep program for 500/1600 ton exams this coming summer. The program will build on the knowledge base of the USCG approved 80-hour Master 100 ton course and the 24-hour Upgrade Master 100 ton to Master 200 ton course offer by Columbia Pacific Maritime twice a month. If you have already completed these courses or hold a Master or Mate 200 ton license then you are ready for this online course.

The online 500/1600 ton license prep course builds on the knowledge base required for the Master 200 ton license. As an online course it will focus on providing support for students to study and learn on their own schedule with a minimum of classroom instruction. Instructional methods will include a combination of:

1. CD ROM driven software for reviewing the Rules of the Road questions and preparing for the seventy percentile general knowledge exams.
2. Custom workbooks containing navigation problems for preparing for the ninety percentile chart and near coastal (terrestrial) exams.
3. Instructions on using the exam room resources and reference materials.
4. Online instructional support.

Watch for more information as summer approaches.

The Columbia Pacific Maritime course schedule is posted through the remainder of this year. Currently we are in the middle of my busy season, which runs November through June. At the time of posting this message all OUPV, Master 100 ton, Able Seaman, Upgrade OUPV to Master 100 ton, and Rules of the Road classes are booked full through the May 26, 2010. During the busy season it is advisable to schedule these classes at least 60 days in advance.

There are open spaces in all Upgrade Master 100 to 200 ton, Apprentice Mate upgrade, Master Fishing Vessels, License Endorsement, Celestial Navigation, and Radar Observer courses. These classes can generally always be scheduled with a seven day notice.

All classes beginning May 31, 2010 and after have open spaces.

To schedule a course call (503) 841-6066 and ask for Pat.

An FCC issued Marine Radio Operator Permit (MROP) issues the authority to operate marine radio equipment on commercial vessels. This permit is required for the Master of inspected passenger vessels, tugboats and other commercial vessels that are required by federal law to carry VHF or SSB marine radios.

The MROP is an easy an inexpensive license to get and best of all the FCC issues this license for life; meaning the license will never need to be renewed.

The exam is a 24 question multiple choice exam requiring a 75% passing score. The questions are taken from a pool of questions published on the FCC website that cover the basic operating principles and FCC regulations contained in Element 1 of the FCC exam structure. The exam is administered for the FCC by authorized commercial radio examiners located around the nation, generally at a cost of less than $50.

Click here to view or download the questions.

Click here to locate a commercial radio examiner in your area.

In the November 17, 2009 Federal Register the USCG published its final ruling for implementation of STCW 95 regulations. These new regulations were intended to become effective sometime the summer of 2010 and would have primary impact on licenses of greater than 200 gross tons that are used on near coastal or ocean voyages or on licenses used on international voyages. They would have almost no impact on an OUPV license, on any inland license or on any license of 200 tons or less used exclusively on domestic voyages.

In the March 23, 2010 Federal Register the USCG stated that in response to feedback from the industry and to the expected adoption of the 2010 amendments to STCW regulations they are going to seek addition public comments prior to the final implementation. This means that those mariners who are scrambling to upgrade their license prior to final rule making will now have some addition time to do so.

This just came in from the National Maritime Center. The bottom line is that if you are planning to get a new license or upgrade your existing license do it ASAP; New regulations never make things easier.

The Coast Guard announces that it is revisiting the approach proposed in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the Implementation of the 1995 Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as published in the Federal Register on November 17, 2009.

In response to feedback we have received and to the expected adoption of the 2010 amendments to the Convention under development at the IMO, the Coast Guard is reviewing the approach outlined in the NPRM. As such, we are considering publishing a Supplemental NPRM (SNPRM) as a next step. The SNPRM would describe any proposed changes from the NPRM, and seek comments from the public on those proposed changes.

For complete details, please view the March 23, 2010 Federal Register Notice .

There are some substantial changes that are going to be made  to 46 CFR Subchapter B regulations this year. 46 CFR Subchapter B contains the license and manning regulations for all US flagged commercial vessels from the smallest fishing guide boat to the largest super-tanker. The proposed changes were published in the Federal Register on November 17, 2009 with the final rules expected to be effective by mid-summer 2010.

The primary changes will be to the licenses requiring compliance with the STCW 95 regulations. This includes licenses with tonnage limitations greater than 200 gross domestic tons that are not limited to inland waters only and licenses of less than 200 gross tons that are used on international voyages. The purpose of these changes are to bring the Merchant Mariner Credential program into full compliance with the STCW 95 regulations and complete the implementation process that began over a decade ago.

It appears that all existing licenses will be grandfathered, but the new requirements must be met for all original issue and upgrades. There are no changes proposed to the requirements for an OUPV license, but there are several changes proposed to Master or Mate 25 to 200 tons licenses. 

• License limitations will be issued as 25, 50, 100, and 200 tons; eliminating the 150 ton category. To qualify for a 50 ton limitation a minimum of 25% of the qualifying experience must be on vessels over 5 gross tons, the previous regulation required only one day over 5 tons. The tonnage formula previously used will remain unchanged.
• License routes will be inland, near coastal domestic voyages, and near coastal; eliminating ocean routes for licenses of less than 200 gross tons and clearly spelling out the STCW 95 requirements for the OICNW endorsement for licenses of less than 200 tons used on international voyages.
• Qualifying sea service experience for inland and near coastal domestic routes will remain the same.

The primary changes are to licenses of greater than 200 tons and includes eliminating the 500 gross ton license, the addition of a Chief Mate 1600 ton license and some major changes to the qualifying sea service experience for these licenses. Click here to view the proposed changes.

If you have an existing OUPV (Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel) license you can upgrade it to a Master’s License by completing a three day course and one seventy question exam. The USCG course approval for this course reads:

“Any applicant who has successfully completed your 24-hour Upgrade OUPV to Master 100 Tons course and presents your Certificate of Training WITHIN ONE YEAR of the completion of training, will satisfy the examination requirements of 46 CFR 10.207 for upgrade of a license from OUPV to Master 100 Tons Near Coastal.”

In addition to completing this three day course you must also meet the sea service requirements for the Master near coastal license of two years (720 days). At least one year (360 days) of the required experience must have been on ocean or near coastal ocean waters, meaning over the bar. Since the OUPV requires 360 days of sea service experience you only need to document an additional 360 days of experience for the Master’s License. To upgrade an OUPV license to a Master inland license requires no additional sea service experience.

The tonnage limitation on the Master’s License will be either 25, 50 or 100 tons depending on the qualifying sea service experience. If all the qualifying experience was on vessels of less than 5 tons the license will be limited to vessels of less than 25 tons; if any of the qualifying experience was on a vessel over 5 tons the license will be limited to vessels of less than 50 tons. To qualify for a license with a 100 ton limitation you need to have either 360 days on a vessel over 37 tons or 180 days on a vessel over 50 tons.

Accuadiagnostic has now become ArcPoint. The people are the same, only the name has changed. This is an inexpensive and reliable place for DOT/USCG drug testing an random drug testing programs. The people working here are knowledgeable in Coast Guard forms and procedures and will get it right for you the first time every time. For locations around the nation visit their new website: ArcPoint.com

Contact ArcPoint in the Portland, Oregon area at:

• 11800 NE 95th Street, suite 200
• Vancouver, WA 98682
• bpeterson@arcpointus.com
• (360) 597-4543 or (360) 601-6777

I often receive questions regarding renewals and upgrades to a Merchant Mariner Credential.

For any renewal of an existing credential you need to:

• Renew your TWIC and make a copy of both sides to include in your application.
• Complete an application form CG-719B. The current form expired 7/31/09, but the Coast Guard has announced that it will remain valid until otherwise announced.
• Complete a Physical exam using the new 9-page Medical Evaluation Report form CG-719K.
• Complete a DOT/USCG random drug screen. Form CG-791P is optional, but has some instructions for issuing letters for mariners who are participating in approved random programs operated by employers.
• If you have a Radar Endorsement on your credential you will need to complete a radar renewal course.
• If you hold an Unlimited license you will need to complete a flashing light course.
• Document 360 days of sea service experience in the past five years.
• If you hold an STCW 95 certificate the required sea service must be on oceans otherwise you will need to complete a BST renewal course to renew your STCW 95 credentials.
• If you do not have the required sea service experience you can either complete an approved renewal course or request to take an open book exam. The open book exam is mailed to you and you have 90 days to complete it using all the resources you have available, if you fail the exam the CG will mail it back to you to take a second time.

To upgrade an existing credential you need to meet the sea service requirements of the desired credential using your previous service plus any newly acquired experience and complete an application package, including:

A copy of both sides of your TWIC.

• Form CG-719B
• Medical Evaluation Report form CG-719K
• DOT/USCG random drug screen or letter of participation in a random program.
• Form CG-719S or sea service letters documenting the additional sea service requirements. It is always a good idea to include copies of previously submitted service.
• Any course completion certificates required for the upgrade.

Many credential upgrades do not require examinations, they are upgraded on sea service experience alone. Examples of these credentials include:

• Upgrade of an AB Fishing to AB Special; an AB Special to AB Limited; an AB Limited to AB Unlimited.
• Upgrade the tonnage limitation on a Master’s license from 25 to 50 or 50 to 100 without changing the route on the license.
• Upgrade the tonnage limitation on a Mate’s license from 150 to 200 without changing the route on the license.
• Upgrade a Mate 200 (or 150) to Master 200 without changing the route on the license.
• Upgrade the tonnage limitation on a Master’s license from 150 to 200 without changing the route on the license.
• Upgrade Apprentice Mate (steersman) to Mate of Towing.

For information on sea service requirements, application requirements or to download the required forms visit my website at http://ColumbiaPacificMaritime.com