Capt. License Requirements

[Polestar]

crediting_military_ss.pdf


Here is (I hope) information regarding counting military service time for sea service. It will come in as a download PDF, so you will need to open it separately.

[psneeld]

Look it up or call Maritime Center, I believe sub time is credited as a percentage....like 75% or something close.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by psneeld

I don't think it counts for much, as hard as it is to get, it doesn't count towards the new requirements of drivers licenses mandated by thev Federal multi point system.

Then again, neither does a military ID card, but a phone bill does....

Wifey B: Will it allow you to buy groceries?

Oh, so sorry.....bad bad me.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by cappy208

To fill in the blanks, as far as operating a vessel (when operating ON your license) you are legally limited to 12 hours a day maximum. .

Not accurate.

The rules of STCW and ILO Maritime Labor Convention are as follows:

Minimum of 10 hours rest in every 24 hour period and a minimum of 77 hours rest in every 7 day period. While hours of rest may be divided within the day, there must always be one continuous period of rest of at least 6 hours.

And that does not apply to personal recreational boating.

[psneeld]

Assistance towers can fall into the "part time workers" category, so you can be on call 24hrs and work more than 12 hrs in a day..... I did it a lot and it makes for a long, tiring summer.

But we followed the 12hr rule for other maritime jobs.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Islanddreamer

Question- did the TWIC get you through TSA? I’m already TSA Pre, but it would be cool if my TWIC would work too.

No.

Personal experience.

-Chris

[Islanddreamer]

Almost tried two weeks ago. Glad I didn’t. I’d be the one jamming up the line, although Southwest gives TSAPre away for free often at BWI making my Pre line longer than the usual line. Unfortunately SWA goes everywhere I need to go.

[Gulf Comanche]

Check out tsa.gov for what is supposed to be good id for getting on the plane. Permanent Resident Card, Border Crossing Card? TWIC is also listed as good but ranger42 says he was denied with the TWIC. WTF is a border crossing card?

[Maerin]

Originally Posted by ranger42c

No.

Personal experience.

-Chris

Ditto that.



Doesn't make sense, with the grief you have to go through to get the TWIC. But it's the gubmint, it's not supposed to make sense!

[Gulf Comanche]

TWIC was the easiest part of the whole MMC deal. I walked into their office, maybe by appointment cant remember, filled out some paperwork, sat down at a lady's desk and got my picture taken. Paid the $125 and left. I dont remember anything difficult about it.

[cmgreeniv]

If you want precheck every time get a global entry card! It’s good for five years and gets u through customs fast! Twic will not get you precheck. Some will let you pass because they do not know, but it could also get you tackled by the blue donut patrol. I had some employees using their rapid gate at IAD in the precheck line. I asked what they were doing, they said it worked. I asked a supervisor at another airport in Little Rock later that week. He said no to the rapid gate and twic question, and said the gate keepers were just not doing their job. Made me feel real safe.

[hmason]

Check your credit card benefits. Many will credit you back for the cost of TSA pre and Global Entry. Little known fact.

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by Gulf Comanche

Check out tsa.gov for what is supposed to be good id for getting on the plane. Permanent Resident Card, Border Crossing Card? TWIC is also listed as good but ranger42 says he was denied with the TWIC. WTF is a border crossing card?

I meant the TWIC isn't a substitute for TSA Pre-check. It's OK for ID, although the TSA guy looked like he'd never seen one before... but it doesn't get you into the short line.

FWIW, Global Entry is better than TSA Pre-Check; can make a big difference for international returns.

-Chris

[cappy208]

Originally Posted by BandB

Not accurate.


And that does not apply to personal recreational boating.

Actually it was quite accurate.

These questions are derived from a ‘sub 100 ton, domestic US crowd’. So neither STCW nor ILO apply.

The Germaine part is: people who are wishing to document sea time cannot use more than a ‘USCG’ normal day (8 hours) unless on specific boats, in specific circumstances. People who are running boats domestic are limited by the 12 hour rule. Someone who is running their own boat over 12 hours is fine.... until they have an accident. Then when an investigation shows the hours operating it effects liability.
Thus, the USCG will not accept sea service letters in excess of one day per one calendar day from yachts.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by cappy208

Thus, the USCG will not accept sea service letters in excess of one day per one calendar day from yachts.

Commonly misunderstood as people don't realize the 1.5 days for 12 hours is only when scheduled commercially.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by cappy208

When you’re going for a low level license ‘self certifying’ sea time is easy. They don’t ‘check it’. And you can basically write anything down for days and each day is 1 day.

No you don’t need to be overseen by someone.

The days are ‘underway days’. But again.... they don’t check.

You can’t lie about sea service. By you can be ‘creative’.

Sure sounds a lot like lying to me.

[cappy208]

Originally Posted by BandB

Commonly misunderstood as people don't realize the 1.5 days for 12 hours is only when scheduled commercially.

Nope. Only when a 6 on 6 off schedule is the norm, and even 12 on 12 off won’t qualify. There’s only one specific subset that is allowed this qualification. And it don’t apply to yachts, ferry’s, or tankers!

Anyway. This was originally about someone asking about a ‘day’. What the USCG counts as a day. How to actually count these days. And who needs to sign the sea service documents.

I have come across several people who try to ‘sea lawyer’ the uscg sea service phrase. Thinking they routinely run their boat 12, 16 hours a day and write a sea service letter attesting to 1.5 (as you allude to) or two days per calendar day. They wonder why it gets shot down. Even a humble evaluator can do simple math. You can’t pack 5 pounds of BS into a 3 pound bag.

[cappy208]

Not to change the subject, but one of the most irking things I have discovered is the incestuous relationship between the NOAA fleet and the USCG. The licensed officers serving aboard the noaa fleet receive 2 for 1 sea days. These little ‘ships’ are often not even as large as the tug I run, never mind the combined tug and barge. And they get unlimited tonnage seatime for upgrades. Now.... that isn’t bad enough. But the actual seamen who man these vessels aren’t allowed the same discretion to advance their careers. It’s all a party that not all are allowed to attend.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by cappy208

Not to change the subject, but one of the most irking things I have discovered is the incestuous relationship between the NOAA fleet and the USCG. The licensed officers serving aboard the noaa fleet receive 2 for 1 sea days. These little ‘ships’ are often not even as large as the tug I run, never mind the combined tug and barge. And they get unlimited tonnage seatime for upgrades. Now.... that isn’t bad enough. But the actual seamen who man these vessels aren’t allowed the same discretion to advance their careers. It’s all a party that not all are allowed to attend.

How do they receive 2 for 1?

[cappy208]

Originally Posted by BandB

Sure sounds a lot like lying to me.

I can’t elaborate more. But many. And by many I mean all. We all have days on boats that are completely valid for sea days. On a sailboat. A trawler. That we want to use for sea-time. It isn’t a lie to use it all. But the restrictions put on the coverage are ridiculous.

To give an example. Someone in the military who serves on a army crew/tank/apc self propelled vessel who spends 8 months doing maneuvers gets out of the army.

Several years later they have a ‘lightbulb moment’!

They want to get a license.

But. The uscg won’t accept their letter.

Why?

Because the officer in charge who ‘witnessed’ their job isn’t available to sign a service letter.

Someone who they worked with years ago, who they don’t remember the specific name of, who BUPERS doesn’t care about. Shouldn’t mean people don’t deserve to have a chance to move ahead in a career or life.

I have heard of USCG veterans who after discharge have had their sea time disallowed because of the same reasons.

Uscg vets who took the same safety courses, seamanship courses disallowed.

Uscg vets who took firefighting courses disallowed.

The bureaucracy is insane.

I don’t mean lying. But a mans seatime is valid whether or not some pencil whipper uscg bluesuit accepts it.

However someone has to validate their time is part of ‘the game’. I certainly don’t condone lying. But to deny someone because of archaic fraternity based criteria is BS.

If some guy/gal has an opportunity to advance themselves within the guidelines of the system I say hooray. Flexing the guidelines is part of the system. (Like the noaa officer Corp getting 2 for 1 seatime).


There are many loopholes to be used.
Using them is part of the system

Knowing that loopholes exist isn’t a crime.

Using them is part of experience.