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| Originally Posted by SeaMaster Hi i am trying to figure out the best way to become a SuperYacht Captain. Should I go here http://www.usmma.edu/default.asp to become a SuperYacht Captain. I do live in Key West Florida. Also what other steps should I take to becoming a SuperYacht Captain. If I were to go to a place like this should i also go to a regular college to get a degree on engineering (that is what i would want to be if i am not able to be a yacht captain). So should i go to the merchent marine academey and should i also get a college degree in the other thing i would like to be. Thank You, For all your help. Hope to see you out on the water when i become a Yacht Captain. |
The USMMA is the federally run 4 year merchant marine academy. In order to apply for admission, you must be appointed by your state senator or your congressional representative. The majority of your college expenses are covered by the federal government, but it is not a free ride.
Upon graduation, you will have a college degree and a Merchant Marine Officer's License. I beleive, but am not sure of this, that upon graduation you will have a service obligation to repay your federal help with the tuition room board etc.
Most merchant marine academies have a deck license program, and an engineering license program, and I think you can even do both. (That would make my head spin!)
You would have to inquire with the school as to what your options are. If you take the deck route, you will graduate with a Third Mate Any Gross Tons license.
This puts you into the advancement track to work towards your Master Any Gross Tons License.
Some license requirements for various levels can be found here:
USCG Licensing
I know you stated in an earlier post you would like to run a "giga-yacht". Well, most of those yachts are not American flagged, so you would need to investigate what is needed to run one of their vessels.
I do know that if you hold a USCG Masters License for 500 Gross Registered Tons (GRT), or 1600 GRT (which is the same as 3000 gross tons under the International Tonnage Convention or ITC), you can apply to the MCA (Maritime Coastguard Agency in the United Kingdom) for a Certificate of Equivalent Competency (CEC) which will allow you to captain what is called a Red- Flag Registry vessel given the constraints of your USCG License.
The USMMA is not the only merchant marine academy you can attend. Many states have a merchant marine academy, and when you graduate you will have a degree and a license. Just off the top of my head there is SUNY Maritime in New York, Massachusetts Maritime Academy, Maine Maritime Academy, and I believe there are academies in Texas and California.
AMG gave some very wise advice as well. You may want to get a job as a deckhand (go to school for one week to get your STCW certificate first!) to see if yachting is for you. Having the requisite license will get you in the door, but the job and lifestyle are not about navigating the boat from point A to point B. Driving the boat is actually one of the lesser parts of the job.
You may very well decide that yachting is not for you, there are jobs on the commercial side should you choose that route.