[Marmot]

“Well Marmot, seeing as the title of this web site is YACHT FORUMS, and everything we discuss here is YACHT ORIENTED, then why would we even consider work on a commerical fishing boat or lighter.”

Mostly because the original question was, and the topic title is: “Advice requested for 6-pack license”. The poster is an American asking about USCG licensing and his career path.

”With the majority of yachts over 100 feet being foreign flagged, then an MCA license holds water.”

An MCA yacht license is valid only on a Red Flag yacht. It is not valid on an American flagged vessel of any size or function. The marine industry is made up of more than just yachts. My advice to anyone seeking a career in the maritime industry is to obtain the best license possible, and in the case of an American, that license is a USCG license. The MCA will issue a USCG license holder a certificate of equivalent competency that is valid on Red Flag yachts or merchant vessels. An MCA yacht license is not valid for use on an American flagged vessel of any description. It is not valid on a Red Flag vessel other than a yacht. An American holding only an MCA license is severely limited given the employment and training opportunities available to the holder of USCG licenses.

“When was the last time you had to perform practical factors exam at sea for a USCG 100 ton ticket?”

It’s been a long time but preceding the issuance of my 100 ton master I had to serve 720 days at sea. That is a pretty good “practical factor.” Not that an OUPV or 100 ton is good for anything other than local work from a U.S. port. The entry level ticket for yacht service is probably the 200 ton and to obtain that from the USCG requires 1080 days of sea time, with 720 of those days serving as master or mate. This is in contrast to "You also only need 90 days" to obtain an MCA 200 ton master. I would say that 1080 days of underway seatime, not just “signed on” a yacht washing down at the dock, and working under the supervision of an experienced mariner provides considerable opportunity to demonstrate “practical factors.

“Do you hold an RYA/MCA license?”

No, but I hold an MCA CeC based on my unlimited USCG license. It is valid on any ship or yacht of any size anywhere in the world. It is recognized by every “white list” flag state as being valid for their endorsement to serve on yachts or merchant vessels of any size or power.

“Because I hold both US and MCA and the MCA exam was far tougher than the USCG exam.”

Probably difficult for you because 90 days at sea and a license prep course just isn’t enough time to learn much. It certainly isn’t enough time to learn leadership skills and barely enough time to learn the skills of a good deckhand much less gain the experience a commercial “charter guest” has the right to expect of the master of a passenger carrying vessel in commercial service.

(edited to correct spelling error)

[The Reverend]

The advice given by Marmot is excellent I would agree that far better to obtain the internationally recognised commercial STCW tickets (certificates) than the national restricted tickets. To get these tickets you have to proper seatime on commercial ships or large yachts This also applies to engineers.
You also have the possibility of a proper career path if you wish.

The RYA tickets were originally designed for the private yacht owner run a small yacht safely. The Commercial Endorsement is just a stamp used to fill a gap allowing holders of the RYA tickets to work commercially on small charter yachts.

This has lead to situations like this:-

http://www.maib.gov.uk/publications/...dy_candida.cfm

[Islandtime]

The big question is what you're looking to do with your license. I'm a USCG vet with time aboard a 180' buoy tender and a 210' cutter. Without that valuable time, I wouldn't have been able to obtain a 100GT USCG license. When discharged, you should have received a few different copies of your DD214. One of them lists your sea time; I had lost that copy and had to contact the Military Records Center mentioned earlier in this thread. Whatever you decide to do, that big boat time is really gonna come in handy. Good luck!

[toniknik]

I am a YN3 at Tracen Yorktown. I am looking into much of the same gig. From my experience, you need documentation of your sea time from the USCG. This documentation will allow you to get your captains licences. I suggest you find a good Yeoman or contact your Service and Personnel office if you are still active duty to get proof of seatime which you should have!

if you need anything else let me know! I'm looking to get some sea time on the civilian side if you know anyone who needs crew or AB seaman pass on the info!

[toniknik]

I am also in the USCG however I have been stationed ashore for the past few years. I don't have any sea time and looking for the opportunity as I wish to persue captains mate licences. I am in VA and can be in Ft.Lauderdale (hometown) Could you hook me up with a few names or people who could help me get the sea time and experience I can be AB Seaman.

[CaptPKilbride]

If you have an AB why not try the tug companies? Tonnage is good, and they mostly do 12 hour days, so you should get 1.5 days of seatime for every day aboard.

[cnkale80]

From what I understand, you are only allowed 1 day of sea time each day that must be 4 hours. I didn't think you could compile the hours.

[CaptPKilbride]

From what I understand, and do not have the timne at this second to cite a source, is if you have 12 hours underway time in a 24 hour period you get 1.5 days credit for each 24 hour period.

[cnkale80]

oh ok. Well, obviously, you would know better than me, lol. Thanks for the heads up.

[Pascal]

a sea day is defined as FOUR hours under way in a 24 hours period. I've never heard that you can claim more than one day per 24 hour period, if so, i'd like to see it in writing...

frankly, the requirements make no sense at all... someone who takes a 50' Sportfish to Biminini every other week end for 10 years woudl legally be allowed to show ZERO days if he leaves on saturday morning and come back sunday night.

yet, some guy with a 15' whaler who goes drift fishing for 5 hours every week end out on the bay can claim these days. and if he fishes just outside the colreg line, that's off shore experience...

EDIT
i did find this on www.6pack.us... so to be verified, since some school sites are not always accurate (I found one saying a day is 6 hours!)

"The question of what constitutes a day of sea time is in the regulations: At least four (4) hours under way in a 24-hour period counts as one (1) day. For the 6-pack, if underway for 24 hours with regular watch schedule, the USCG will give you credit for 1.5 days for each day, IF:
a) you are doing time on a COMMERCIAL a vessel;
b) if you are doing watches over 12 hours (in other words, if you are doing overtime watches). Other than that, sea time is basically any time you are on a boat for more than 4 hours. "

[cnkale80]

That makes sense. I think it depends on where you get your license because, the Maritime Institute in San Diego says in order to get a 6-PAK, you must have 360 days in OPERATION of a vessel. Others, like TCC on the east coast, require simply underway time. I was on a ship in the coast guard as an operations specialist where my main job was navigation, radar, and communication. I would suspect that would count toward a license. I think my DD-214 says I have 750 days of accrued sea time.

[K1W1]

Hi,

PASCAL- What is the Colreg Line?

Do the COLREGS not apply all over the place or what?

[CaptPKilbride]

Found this on USCG Homeport

8 Hour Workday (Straight Time)
8 hours of watchstanding or workday not to include overtime. On vessels less 100 GRT the OCMI may reduce the hours, but in no case will it be less than 4 hours.

12 Hour Workday (Time and One Half)
For vessels where a 12 hour workday is authorized and practiced such as on a 6-on, 6-off watch schedule, each workday may be creditable as 1 and 1/2 days of service.

[K1W1]

Originally Posted by CaptPKilbride

Found this on USCG Homeport

Hi,

At last something from the Federal Govt that seems to be written in a language that can be understood by normal people.

Whether the rules will be applied uniformly by those wearing the uniform however is something that only time and applicants personal experiences will determine.

[Pascal]

Originally Posted by K1W1

Hi,

PASCAL- What is the Colreg Line?

Do the COLREGS not apply all over the place or what?

i was referring to the inland/international line which is what the USCG is using to split inland sea time and offshore/near shore. so, if someone just crosses the line out the inlet and spends 4 hours drift fishing 100 yards from the inlet, that counts as a day!