Can a A.B special run as A.B on a ship??

[james757]

This job through agency who can't give much info until the orientation its a ship that sails on the Great Lakes hiring for OS. and AB pay sucks but its a job.. My question I thought read somewhere but can't find info again. Something about on Great lakes you don't need full stcw 95 I just have ratings forming part of Nav watch (lookout only) which is only good on vessels under 500 tons. I do believe you need a A.B unlimited to sail as A.B on ship is this correct? Or not? Also sorry if posted in wrong section of website wasn't sure where to ask. Why do I always get ppl at NMC who don't understand my questions,

Thanks in advance

[Mr 100-ton]

STCW RFPNW does not apply to the Great Lakes,,, that is an STCW requirement for NC or Oceans,,,

[seadawg]

IMHO..all depends on what tonnage the shlp is??short answer no!!next question??

[KennyW1983]

So an AB special is not an AB?? That doesnt make any sence.Im an AB special with RFPNW STCW ect would I be able to stand an AB watch?

[Diesel]

Your "lookout duties only" RFPNW is not restricted to vessels under 500 tons. Your AB MMD may be. What type do you have? AB Special or AB Limited? Example: AB limited is restricted to 1600 tons. AB Special OSV was restricted to 500 ton domestic, but they have now expanded it to cover large OSV's to 6000 Tons ITC as well.

As was said earlier STCW does not apply to the Great Lakes so the RFPNW is a moot issue anyway. If you are an AB limited you could not fulfill the C.O.I requirements of an AB on a vessel over 1600 tons, you could sail and fill an OS position. Depending on the company they may choose to pay you more.

[Diesel]

So an AB special is not an AB?? That doesnt make any sence.Im an AB special with RFPNW STCW ect would I be able to stand an AB watch?

I mean what doesn't make sense? An AB is an AB, but they are not all created equal you have: AB Special, AB Limited, AB Unlimited, AB Sail. If there was no difference they wouldn't have different names. You could stand a watch as a specially trained OS. Not as an AB.

[capitan1962]

AB special can sail as AB on any vessel. The only requirements are that only 50% of the required ABs are AB unlimited unless on an international voyage then the requirements are subject to the vessel class.

[KennyW1983]

AB special can sail as AB on any vessel. The only requirements are that only 50% of the required ABs are AB unlimited unless on an international voyage then the requirements are subject to the vessel class.

Right, thats what I thought. As long as they have the right amount of AB/Us the rest can be LTD and Special.

[james757]

Thanks for the replies .. Edison Choust was the one who told me RFPNW (lookout only) was not good on their 1600 ton vessels so I would have to run as O.S for them but no openings at this time. I researched it online few months ago and found out that the limit was 500 tons with only lookout only. They company I'm talking about is americansteamship.com through Ameriforce

[SaltySailor]

Thanks for the replies .. Edison Choust was the one who told me RFPNW (lookout only) was not good on their 1600 ton vessels so I would have to run as O.S for them but no openings at this time. I researched it online few months ago and found out that the limit was 500 tons with only lookout only. They company I'm talking about is americansteamship.com through Ameriforce

Why is ASC, an union contracted outfit hiring mariners through Ameriforce???

[james757]

same question i was wondering but the told me they didn't have any openings for non siu members that I could talk to ameriforce as they were hiring for a few of their ships.

[cappy208]

Another issue is: some companies only hire the higher qualifications, because they can't. or won't bother understand the difference between the level of manning required for the vessels. Some of the respondents made the point that only a portion of the crew MUST be AB unlimited. But since a large segment of crew changes all the time, the office must maintain the 'required' proportions, it is easier to make everyone meet the higher qualifications.than keep the vessel in compliance with different requirements and juggle the different qualifications of the employees.

[george44]

Some of ASC's boats are (were) crewed unlicensed by Local 5000... Those guys went on strike in the fall of 2009. So some boats(the ones that used to be owned by Oglebay Norton) that went over to ASC are now crewed by the Ameriforce hires... I haven't been on one with those guys but I did see the issues of having ocean or NC ab's take wheelsman jobs on GL ships... Basically a good wheelsman on a laker is effectively a pilot by experience many of them could prolly run the rivers without a mate... but the non-lake guys don't know the turns, the feel of the boats, etc.... I saw one (SIU ocean AB who took the job on the lakes outta the hall) that the mates and other wheelsman werent too happy 'cause he just wanted to mindlessly follow rudder commands, and couldnt really handle some of the more challenging turns and passages... without a regular wheelsman earning some O/T over their shoulder...

[Diesel]

Another issue is: some companies only hire the higher qualifications, because they can't. or won't bother understand the difference between the level of manning required for the vessels. Some of the respondents made the point that only a portion of the crew MUST be AB unlimited. But since a large segment of crew changes all the time, the office must maintain the 'required' proportions, it is easier to make everyone meet the higher qualifications.than keep the vessel in compliance with different requirements and juggle the different qualifications of the employees.

Which was the point I was so inadequately trying to make earlier.

[Diesel]

Thanks for the replies .. Edison Choust was the one who told me RFPNW (lookout only) was not good on their 1600 ton vessels so I would have to run as O.S for them but no openings at this time. I researched it online few months ago and found out that the limit was 500 tons with only lookout only. They company I'm talking about is americansteamship.com through Ameriforce

For my own education I would be very much interested in where you found the info on the 500 ton tonnage restriction for RFPNW lookout only. That would essentially make it worthless as you could only use it on vessels between 200 and 500 tons. It seems odd to me, because if there was a tonnage restriction it should be listed in the restrictions section of your STCW. It should not be something you would have to research online. I am also curious as to who you spoke to at ECO. It is probably likely that they are not hiring the lesser endorsement as AB's, due to the slowdown in the Gulf.

[james757]

hello, lavern reed believe her name was told me that was no good on 1600 ton. I googled it like said before and well now I can't find it. I haven't spent much time on net lately maybe I just misread something,