U.S. MERCHANT MARINE CREW

About: High-grade licensed mariner who holds ultimate command and responsibility of a merchant vessel. The captain is responsible for the safe and efficient operation of the ship, including its seaworthiness, safety and security, cargo operations, navigation, crew management, and legal compliance for the persons and cargo on board.

Duties & Responsibilities: The captain ensures that the ship complies with local and international laws and complies also with company and flag state policies. The captain is ultimately responsible, under the law, for aspects of operation such as the safe navigation of the ship, its cleanliness and seaworthiness, safe handling of all cargo, management of all personnel, inventory of ship’s cash and stores, and maintaining the ship’s certificates and documentation.

Requirements for Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV/”6-Pack”) License

• 90 days service in the last 3 years on vessels of appropriate tonnage.
• Near Coastal: 360 days deck service in the operation of vessels, including 90 days service on ocean or near coastal waters.
• Great Lakes/Inland: 360 days deck service in the operation of vessels, including 90 days service on Great Lakes.
• Inland: 360 days deck service in the operation of vessels.
• Towing Endorsement: Must request and pass towing endorsement examination.

See 46 CFR § 11.467

Requirements for Master License
Master of Vessels on Not More Than 100 Gross Registered Tons

• 90 days service in the last 3 years on vessels of appropriate tonnage.
• Near Coastal: 720 days of service steam, motor, or auxiliary sail vessels on ocean or near coastal waters (360 days inland is acceptable)
• Great Lakes and Inland: 360 days service steam, motor, sail/aux. sail vessels including 90 days on Great Lakes waters
• Inland: 360 days service steam, motor, aux. sail vessels on any waters
• Rivers: 360 days service steam, motor, aux. sail vessels on any waters
• Sailing Endorsement: Must submit evidence of 360 days of service on sail or auxiliary sail vessels (service obtained before license is okay.)
• Towing Endorsement: Must request and pass towing endorsement examination or complete course.

See 46 CFR 111.422

Service requirements for master of ocean or near coastal steam or motor vessels of not more than 1600 gross tons.

The minimum service required to qualify an applicant for a license as master of ocean or near coastal steam or motor vessels of not more than 1600 gross tons is: (a) Four years total service on ocean or near coastal waters. Service on Great Lakes and inland waters may substitute for up to two years of the required service. Two years of the required service must have been on vessels of over 100 gross tons. Two years of the required service must have been as a master, mate master or mate (pilot) of towing vessels, or equivalent supervisory position while holding a license as master, mate master or mate (pilot) of towing vessels.

One year of the service as master, mate master or mate (pilot) of towing vessels, or equivalent supervisory position must have been on vessels of over 100 gross tons; or (b) An applicant holding a license as chief mate or second mate of ocean or near coastal steam or motor vessels of over 1600 gross tons is eligible for this license upon completion of a limited examination.

See: G-Captain

USCG Master Unlimited Great Lakes (GL) and Inland License Requirements

Master Unlimited GL Sea Service Requirements

• Recency: 90 days in the past 3 years on vessels of appropriate tonnage
• 360 days of service as Mate or FCP while acting in the capacity of 1st Mate of Great Lakes vessels of 1600 GRT or more while holding a license or MMC endorsement as Mate Inland or FCP of Great Lakes and Inland self-propelled vessels of Unlimited tonnage; (service on near coastal or inland waters does not apply) OR
• 720 days of service as Master Inland vessels of 1600 GRT or more on inland waters, excluding the Great Lakes; (service on near coastal waters or Great Lakes does not apply) OR
• 360 days of service upon Great Lakes while holding an Officer endorsement as Mate or FCP of GL & INL of vessels 1600 GRT or more, OF WHICH: 180 days of service as 1st Mate and Service as 2nd Mate accepted – 2 for 1basis for a max of 180 days.

Master Unlimited Inland Sea Service Requirements

• 360 days service as FCP (other than canal & small lakes routes) or Mate of Great Lakes or Inland self-propelled vessels of 1600 GRT or more while holding a license or MMC endorsement as Mate inland or FCP of Great Lakes and Inland self-propelled vessels of unlimited tonnage; (service on near coastal waters does not apply); OR
• 720 days of service performing bridge watchkeeping duties under the supervision of the master or a qualified officer, while holding a mate/ FCP license or officer endorsement.

Unlimited Tonnage

• All required service is on vessels 100 GRT or more, AND 50% of the required service on vessels 1600 GRT or more.
• Tonnage Limitation: A Tonnage Limitation may be issued if 50% of the required service is not on vessels over 1600 GRT and all experience is on vessels 100 GRT or more.
• Limited to max tonnage on which 25% of experience is obtained rounded up to the next 1,000 GRT, OR
• Limited to 150% tonnage which 50% of service is obtained rounded up to the next 1,000 GRT, WHICHEVER IS GREATER. (Minimum 2000 GRT limitation,) When total equals or exceeds 10,000 GRT mariner is issued an endorsement without a tonnage limitation.
• Other Requirements: First Aid, CPR, Approved Basic and Advanced Fire Fighting Course, Radar Observer – Required if your service started after March 24, 2014 – May use expired certificate for RIG but RADAR will not be endorsed on the MMC if expired.

Duties & Responsibilities: Specific duties and responsibilities vary by vessel but typically include deck department management, navigation watch-standing, cargo operations, safety and firefighting operations, environmental protection, as well as acting as a vessel security officer and medical officer.

Requirements: Chief Mates must be at least 21 years old. They’ll need at least one year of work experience on motor or steam vessels and must have received second mate endorsements. All sea experience must be on a vessel over 200 gross registered tonnage (GRT) and half of the year-long experience must be on ships over 1,600 GRT.

See: MITAGS.ORG

Duties & Responsibilities: The second mate, or second officer, is the third-highest position on a ship. Second mate job duties include keeping watch, overseeing navigational procedures, preparing voyage plans, and serving as an understudy for the first and second ranking officers on the ship. In general, you need considerable experience working on a ship before being considered for a second mate job, having already honed your skills working through the ranks. You’re in charge of other crew members in your role as the second mate, making leadership skills crucial. You also need to get your second mate license and, depending on the company, additional certifications to prove your qualifications for this career.

See: ZipRecruiter

Requirements: Chief Mates must be at least 21 years old. They’ll need at least one year of work experience on motor or steam vessels and must have received second mate endorsements. All sea experience must be on a vessel over 200 gross registered tonnage (GRT) and half of the year-long experience must be on ships over 1,600 GRT.

See: 46 CFR 11.406

Duties & Responsibilities: The third mates’ responsibilities include safely managing a navigational watch while underway between ports, according to MITAGS. The navigational watch includes the quartermaster who steers the ship and the deck crew that, while the ship is en route, performs maintenance on deck in preparation for arrival at port. The third mate is usually responsible for the upkeep of lifesaving and firefighting equipment. This includes responsibility for some or all of the ship’s boats, particularly the lifeboats. The third mate is also generally an active participant in fire and boat drills.

See: Third Mate

Requirements: A third mate is an officer of a ship’s deck department and is responsible for supervising many high-priority operations. To become a third mate, you need to be 19 years or older, have 1080 days of sea time, pass a USCG-approved exam, secure a TWIC card, pass a medical exam and drug test, fill out a merchant application and pay application fees for your Third Made License.

See: 46 CFR 11.407

Duties & Responsibilities: A boatswain mate (BM), also known as a bosun, is the senior crewman of the deck. He is responsible for the ship’s hull and all its components, including its rigging, anchors, cables, sails, deck maintenance and small boat operations. The bosun is designated the warrant officer in the Navy. In the Merchant Marines, he is an unlicensed member of the crew. In terms of ship ranks, he is considered the foreman and supervises other crew members of the deck department

See: Boatswain Mate

Requirements: Boatswain’s Mates (BM) conduct, direct, supervise, and train ship handling, anchoring, mooring and towing operations, small boat operations, underway replenishment, amphibious operations, flight deck operations, crane operations, cargo handling, lifesaving equipment handling, rigging, deck seamanship, painting and preservation, marlinespike seamanship, and related equipment maintenance and administration. There are 6 credentials closely related to the tasks performed in this Rating that may be attainable as soon as Class “A” technical school has been completed. Sailors can take advantage of these credentialing opportunities shortly following their initial training.

Duties & Responsibilities: Able Seamen perform shipboard operations including maintenance and upkeep of the ship, assist in ship security, deck seamanship, navigation, and piloting, and operate and maintain small boats, deck equipment, and machinery. They prepare metal and wood surfaces by applying primers and paints, rig cargo handling equipment for ship replenishment at sea, and handle cargo, direct winch and crane operators. Able Seaman also perform work details, and assist with repair parties during shipboard emergencies, launch and recover amphibious crafts, operate small boats as coxswains, and inspect and maintain lifeboats, life rafts, and survival equipment. In addition, they train junior personnel performing flight deck observer, chock and chain personnel, and enlisted landing signalmen for multiple helicopter flight deck operations.

Duties & Responsibilities: Ordinary Seamen perform maintenance and preservation of ship’s metal and wood surfaces, compartments, deck machinery, and equipment. They stand deck watches that include helmsman, lee helmsman, lookout, Boatswain’s Mate of the Watch, and messenger of the watch underway. Ordinary Seamen man and operate amphibious crafts and small boats, assist in flight deck operations, underway replenishment, and crane and winch operations, perform all basic seamanship functions aboard ship including knot tying and whipping and seizing lines or wire, and perform basic emergency functions including first aid treatment and damage control.

Duties & Responsibilities: Ships and Boats Mates are responsible for the proper training and supervision of junior personnel, including junior officers, in naval traditions, military conduct and justice, leadership, management information, career information, training, programs and policies, military requirements, safety, and security, visual, and radio communications procedures. Ships and Boats Mates direct the operation and maintenance of deck machinery, damage control, and other emergency equipment and direct the movement of non-self-propelled yard craft within the boundaries of harbors, bays, and sounds. In addition, they operate tugs to assist in docking, undocking, drydocking, and cold iron moves, assist in sea/air rescue and missions of mercy operations, and manage the movement of control rotary aircraft and crane operation administration.  Other duties include acting as safety technicians by assisting the Safety Officer or Safety Manager in the implementation of the Navy Occupational Safety and Health (NAVOSH) program and other command safety programs, performing administrative and record keeping functions in support of the command safety organization, and identifying unsafe work practices and hazardous health conditions.

See: 46 CFR 10.232