USCG license renewal

[BandB]

I also believe the USCG National license difference vs. STCW will diminish over the next few years and within 5 years or so there may no longer be a difference.

As to HELM, first note there are several different leadership courses but this one as taught at MPT is definitely not the same course a business school would teach. I can't speak as to other schools.

I would say it's at attempt to teach some skills that have been shown to be greatly lacking in some major situations around the world. It's not how to run a profitable boat which would be the business school emphasis, but issues that definitely impact safety at sea. It's also to address many of the issues widely seen in the management of commercial and recreational boats, areas in which Captains, Mates, Engineers and Stews have not been trained formally in the past. The objective is to achieve good communication, enhance decision making on board, teach recognition and adjustment to situations, plan and allocate resources, operate in a way to both be effective and follow applicable rules, and learn to assign duties and direct others in an effective way.

I think it's a recognition that there is more to being a Master than knowing how to operate a boat. You depend on others and your ability to lead them. It is a management and leadership job and for many who take this course, it's the first management and leadership training they've ever received. The larger the boat, larger the crew, the more your performance is dependent on the performance of those who work for you, under you, not on just what you do.

[Capt.Bill11]

I find I get the best, most up to date answers from the USCG. I note the date and name of the person who gave me the answers.

While I like the folks at MOT and have taken many courses there, and will again, you have to remember they are in the business of selling courses so I and others have found that they can sometimes end up "suggesting" more course then you might actually need to meet the minimum requirements for what every license you are going for or renewing.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Capt.Bill11

I find I get the best, most up to date answers from the USCG. I note the date and name of the person who gave me the answers.

While I like the folks at MOT and have taken many courses there, and will again, you have to remember they are in the business of selling courses so I and others have found that they can sometimes end up "suggesting" more course then you might actually need to meet the minimum requirements for what every license you are going for or renewing.

Actually I have known captains who have gone there and sat down and gotten the facts and discussed their situations and based on the information from MPT decided not to go STCW. I think they or at least some of them are doing a pretty good job assisting those who ask in deciding what they need and I've known several who then decided that a National license was enough for them.

Now, I'd recommend using at least two sources, so USCG and one or more schools, that way you're not as likely to be misled by one individual. In both situations it is not the entire organization speaking to you but just a single individual who can be wrong. With either entity the quality of information varies widely based on who you talk to. If local and getting it from MPT or ICT, I strongly recommend in person and not over the phone.

We also use the USCG checklists as I like written over verbal.

[refugio]

Originally Posted by Capt.Bill11

I find I get the best, most up to date answers from the USCG. I note the date and name of the person who gave me the answers.

Agreed. In fact, called them yesterday to verify how to report testing in lieu of sea service on the CG_719B I'm submitting today. I had a "receipt" from Capt. Rodriguez (BitterEnd Blog guy and head of training for Zenith) from the renewal course I did last April - they checked and it was indeed in the system, and told me I should just print that "receipt" message from him and include it in my packet. The gal I talked to took the extra time to tell me about sending copies rather than originals, and went through how I should handle the TWIC non-renewal. Easy peasy.

[cappy208]

A lot of the problem stems from the introduction of STCW and how that muddles things up. Some of the 'license renewal application' specialists won't even handle STCW holders for even renewal.

The 'centralized' NMC has actually helped remove a lot of the ambiguities in responses. But the whole divide on worldwide standards (brought to us by Filipinos and Pakistanis in the Maritime world makes me puke).

And discussing the 'El Faro' is quite appropo. Similar to the mariner licensing standards/ It is just those hull inspection standards that were skirted regardless of who the regulatory authority is/was.

[twistedtree]

I personally have no problem with license renewal and harmonizing standards internationally. Many other civilized nations view the USCG licensing as a joke compared to what's required elsewhere. The National license relies heavily on sea time, and much less on training. So if you haven't gotten yourself killed, you are good to go. I'm all in favor of more training, in fact I think people should have to re-test for a driver's license renewal, and training should be much more rigorous. The majority of drivers don't seem to know basic rules of the road, or at least don't practice them.

[Sailor of Fortune]

The STCW parts are not optional for me. We regularly go Foreign and have the hardest time with Canada transits. Since my company owns a shipyard in Erie, Pa we have to transit the St Lawrence Seaway and submit to Canadian Seaway inspections. Part of the requirement for crew members is no DWI and other offenses for the last 10 years. This is always a scramble as a couple of the regular crew have had DWI arrests, some 15-18 years ago. 1 of the deckhands has a clearance letter from the Canadian Gov't but was still denied entry to TRANSIT Canadian waters enroute to the US side of Lake Erie. We were sent to Valley Field (west of Montreal) to load the Antenna section for the World trade center and had crew issues that were very expensive to resolve. Canadian made parts loaded on a US flagged barge, to be towed by a US flag tug. I believe its a money grab only. All crew had required STCW and other required documentation for foreign transit.
These issues never come up in other countries

[Pedro]

Originally Posted by BandB

While the USCG site is otherwise a bit vague and of less than stellar help, the checklists are somewhat helpful.

Mariner Application Checklists

It seems this page does not exist.

[Pedro]

I found the checklists here

Checklist

What I do not understand well is, were are the requirements for amateur boaters. I hold a Brazilian Masters license, without which one cannot pilot any boat in the country's coastal waters, but I don't see anything similar in the complex list of US licenses.

[Sabre602]

Originally Posted by Pedro

I found the checklists here

Checklist

What I do not understand well is, were are the requirements for amateur boaters. I hold a Brazilian Masters license, without which one cannot pilot any boat in the country's coastal waters, but I don't see anything similar in the complex list of US licenses.

There is no federal requirement by the US Coast Guard for any sort of master's license for pleasure vessels. The only time that a master needs a USCG license is when he is carrying passengers for hire (paying passengers). This Coast Guard Auxiliary website gives a brief description of these requirements.

Note that many states do require a "boating safety card" or something similar for all recreational boaters. Florida requires boaters born in 1988 or later to pass a boating safety course.

[Pedro]

Ah! That pretty much explains why Miami waters is so full of crazy boaters that not even understand basic preference rules.

[Sabre602]

Originally Posted by Pedro

Ah! That pretty much explains why Miami waters is so full of crazy boaters that not even understand basic preference rules.

Exactly! And I would not even expect them to have taken the basic boater safety course, either.

Or to be sober.

Boa sorte!

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Pedro

Ah! That pretty much explains why Miami waters is so full of crazy boaters that not even understand basic preference rules.

Careful. Miami waters include a lot of boaters from Central and South America. Florida does require a card for all boaters born after 1/1/88, which of the members here likely only includes Oliver.

Miami boaters are much like Miami car drivers. In cars we have drivers from Central and South America, we have old who moved from NYC and hadn't driven for decades and drive very slow, we have young who hadn't driven in NYC and so thrilled they try to see how fast the car will go. We have those use to driving on the other side of the road in Europe or various islands in the Caribbean. We have residents, but huge numbers of visitors. So, unlike other places we have no consistent demographic. Driving between NC and TN and SC and GA, you can tell the difference almost when you cross state lines. I didn't believe the stories about TN until crossing from NC and immediately the speed on the Interstate increased dramatically. However, there's no such thing as a South Florida driver, just the hodgepodge of all of us here.

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Originally Posted by Sabre602

There is no federal requirement by the US Coast Guard for any sort of master's license for pleasure vessels. The only time that a master needs a USCG license is when he is carrying passengers for hire (paying passengers). This Coast Guard Auxiliary website gives a brief description of these requirements.

Note that many states do require a "boating safety card" or something similar for all recreational boaters. Florida requires boaters born in 1988 or later to pass a boating safety course.

I was always under the impression that if the boat is over a specific length or tonnage, you were required to have a Captains/Master's license.

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Alaskan Sea-Duction

I was always under the impression that if the boat is over a specific length or tonnage, you were required to have a Captains/Master's license.

Not in the US to operate your own boat. Now, elsewhere, there are different requirements and 24 meters is generally a cutoff.

[Alaskan Sea-Duction]

Originally Posted by BandB

Not in the US to operate your own boat. Now, elsewhere, there are different requirements and 24 meters is generally a cutoff.

WOW! I learned something today. So I can operate a 100' recreational boat with no license in the USA????

Hey Admiral, you know that boat I was looking at the boat show......

[BandB]

Originally Posted by Alaskan Sea-Duction

WOW! I learned something today. So I can operate a 100' recreational boat with no license in the USA????

Hey Admiral, you know that boat I was looking at the boat show......

Almost....

However, like most things there is a but..

You must be able to insure it. Also, if not US flagged you'll get into pilotage requirements in Alaska.

There are many owners operating such boats without licenses.

[twistedtree]

I think it's a self-limiting thing anyway. As boats get bigger, fewer and fewer owners want to operate it themselves, and instead want a crew. I'd bet the percentage of owner/operator boats over 100' is very small. 75' give or take seems to be the transition point.

[Sailor of Fortune]

Originally Posted by BandB

Not in the US to operate your own boat. Now, elsewhere, there are different requirements and 24 meters is generally a cutoff.

Unless its been changed, 65" and up pleasure boat required operators license.

[twistedtree]

Originally Posted by Sailor of Fortune

Unless its been changed, 65" and up pleasure boat required operators license.

Where is that? Not in the US, or not that I have ever encountered.