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Looking for some Advice and Clarification about starting out!

Discussion in 'Yacht Crews' started by Ejack227, Jul 5, 2015.

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  1. Ejack227

    Ejack227 New Member

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    I wrote back on this forum in 2015 about starting out in the industry and much appreciated the advice I was given. I am now closer to actually being employed (Aspiring Deckhand) in the industry but still have a few questions. I left the US in May for some leisure travel through Southeast Asia and here I am in Davao in the Philippines a few days from completing my STCW. I'm from Central Florida and had plans to complete it in South Florida but I started travelling. I had talked to some people (S/V Delos) that got certified here a couple years ago and they gave me all the advice I needed and it just so worked out I was traveling in Southeast Asia. After July 9th I will have my STCW and be traveling to Australia.

    My first question is, I had a medical exam here with a doctor and have all the cleared paperwork, physical exam, blood work, urinalysis, chest x-ray, basically the works, Is it considered an ENG1 or is there specific form for that, that has to be done by a specific doctor?

    As I mentioned I will be traveling to Australia next(Yes I have a work Visa), Sydney to be specific. I have looked for some agencies online but haven't had much luck, what are the superyacht areas/marinas in Sydney worth dockwalking?

    I also plan to complete my Powerboat Level 2 while in OZ to add to my C/V, I know any certification is good but is there any you would also suggest if I was to do 1 more?

    After Australia and the hopes at securing some day work and part time work to build my C/V I will be returning to the US around Nov-Dec in hopes of securing a more permanent deckhand job. This being said I plan to eventually WORK my way up to a Captain,(yes I know this will take years of experience its my 5-10 year plan) should I go about getting my USCG Six Pack license to Start out even being a deckhand? would this help in my employment and potentially aiding in becoming a captain sooner? Comparing USCG and RYA what is the best option for a lifelong career as a captain?

    My dream is to become a yacht captain one day and I appreciate any positive Advice, Help and Insight you may be able to offer me. Thank you for your time.

    Eric
  2. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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  3. Ejack227

    Ejack227 New Member

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    So just to be clear, you mean I have to have a Filipino ENG1 for my STCW cert to be valid for use in other countries like Australia or can I get an ENG1 when I get to Australia? (Cause I already have a flight out of the Philippines and will not be able to visit any doctor on the list as I am not near any of those cities.)
  4. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    You need to get a Doctor who is approved to issue Seafarers medicals for your Certificate of Competency, the STCW course you do is not any type of Certificate of Competency but it is a set of required skills/courses you need to have to work on vessels in many parts of the world.

    Not all STCW Courses are performed equally, you might well find yourself having problems getting the one you have accepted in some places.
  5. Ejack227

    Ejack227 New Member

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    Okay so who is a COC issued by and are they good for any flagged vessel or only a vessel flagged by the country your COC is in so I would need a new ENG1 if i go back and seek work in the US? I am just a little unsure of all this and want to have it straightened out when I go to apply for jobs
  6. K1W1

    K1W1 Senior Member

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    A CoC is a Certificate of Competency, it will enable you to be either a deck dept or engineering dept member depending upon what CoC and career path you have followed.

    Every country issues their own, the US has been very slow in getting anything STCW Compliant although they had something similar in place already.

    Read this: http://www.stcw.org/

    Your Powerboat Level 2 Certificate will be about as much use an ashtray on a motorcycle on anything with an Australian flag on the back - The AMSA folks are very anti yachts and yachting and refuse to recognise any other nations training . sea time records etc. It is a blatant attempt at protectionism that seems to be working for the moment.
    Last edited: Jul 5, 2015
  7. Ejack227

    Ejack227 New Member

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    Thanks for the advice. I'll just have to try my luck dockwalking in Australia and hope I get a bite!!
  8. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    It sounds like you are getting US licenses by mentioning a 6 pack license? This advice is the USCG route. You need a doctor approved by the USCG if that's the case and they have a USCG medical form the doctor fills out that needs to be used. By all means if you have the seatime get your 6 pack license and 100 ton mate license. Then as soon as you get the seatime for 100T, they instantly change your license to a 100 ton master.
  9. Ejack227

    Ejack227 New Member

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    Thanks Capt J. Yes I definitely plan on getting my Captains license in the US and starting with a six pack. As far at the medical form I was referring to a ENG1. Most yachts require this to work aboard and I wasn't sure if you can just get it anywhere or what the regulations tied to working in a specific country with where it came from are. Not sure if you follow that I am just a little confused about the ENG1, I think I am making a bigger deal than it actually is.
  10. Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    It's really going to depend on the yacht you get a job on. A yacht in AUS might not even need a med form or might want something totally different than one in the US. etc etc..... One mega yacht I worked on in the US many years ago, had everyone go to their doctor to get checked out as well as drug test, etc. during the hiring process.
  11. Ejack227

    Ejack227 New Member

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    I appreciate it Capt J