1600 ton Master Assessments?

[curtgetz]

I can't seem to locate the 1600 ton master assesments on the NMC website?

Does anyone have a link that they could post?

Also, are all the assessments the same from 500master-3rd mate unlimited?

Thanks,

Curt

[anchorman]

There are no assessments for Master. Policy letter 01-02 has all of the assessments for operational level mates.

[curtgetz]

Well...the gang at the NMC says I need to have assessments completed for a 1600ton master? Hmmmm

[Capt Brian]

Curt,

Policy letter 04-02 addresses the assesments. But, from what I understand, this policy is not "released". Or at least it was not. Hard to tell what will happen now. Also, the assesments for 500 t Mate, 1600 t Mate & 3rd Mate Unlimited are all the same.

Brian

[curtgetz]

There are NO assessments for 1600 ton Master? NMC says I must complete them?

[Capt. Fran]

Curt,

Policy letter 04-02 addresses the assesments. But, from what I understand, this policy is not "released". Or at least it was not. Hard to tell what will happen now. Also, the assesments for 500 t Mate, 1600 t Mate & 3rd Mate Unlimited are all the same.

Brian

Policy Letter 04-02 is only applicable to Unlimited Masters and Chief Mates, not 1600 Masters.

There are no assessments for 1600 Master and NMC has their head up their collective arses, again.

My surprise is entirely imagined.

[curtgetz]

Two different answers to the same question. No, 1600ton master assessments, then Yes, 1600 ton master assessments??

Only qualified assessors are given the authority to sign me off? Please say no...

[Capt Brian]

After reading that policy letter I quoted, I did notice 3000 GT. Just another fine mess the NMC is creating for the mariners. Curt - Did they quote you a policy letter to refer to? I know when I upgraded to 1600 Master in Fall 2007, I did not have to do any assesments. Damn, now they will take that license away from me and make me do the assesments. And to just think, the government wants to handle our health care. How do you think that is going to work out if they can't follow policy letters (01-02) that they created? Ugh!!!

[curtgetz]

The way I'm reading it policy letter 04-02 is aplicable to anyone seeking a license over 3000 ITC? That would be me if I'm seeking a 1600 ton master (3000 ITC) ticket.

[Capt. Fran]

The way I'm reading it policy letter 04-02 is aplicable to anyone seeking a license over 3000 ITC? That would be me if I'm seeking a 1600 ton master (3000 ITC) ticket.

Actually Curt, that wouldn't be applicable to you. Although we commonly say, "1600 Master", your license will actually say Master of vessels less than 1600 GRT (3000 GT).

No assessments required for this license. None at all. Nada. Zip. Zilch.

[curtgetz]

Capt. Fran and Anchorman,

You are right. I'm ashamed to admit it, but I was reading my 90 day pending status letter wrong. No assessments are requested for 1600 ton master. The NMC does ask for them if I should want a 3rd mate.

Thanks,

Curt

[Capt. Fran]

Don't be ashamed at all! Goodness knows it is extremely tough to wade through all the regs, letters, etc. Just glad to hear that this story has a happy ending!

[curtgetz]

Thanks all for advice.

I'm excited...cuz just now made "gCaptain Regular"!! Sweet.

[anchorman]

Well, you know, there is a story about how stupid the whole thing is to begin with, regarding the assessments.
Perfect example is being a 1600 ton Master and upgrading to 3rd Mate.
The 1600 Master is doing the exact same assessments the green 500 ton mate would have to do for an original issue. Pure stupidity. Every time I tell a 1600 ton Master on his 7th issue to give me 10 degrees right rudder so I can sign him off, I just cringe.
And what really gets to me is the thread in which NMC used the term "inherent". I almost laughed when I read that. If anything is inherent at all, it would be the fact that a mate comes before master, making a operational level master already qualified as an operational level mate making the assessments redundant for lack of a better term.

[curtgetz]

Anchorman,

As an aspiring mariner should I just do the assessments anyway and have them on file? Cornering an approved assessor is not easy.

[anchorman]

Anchorman,

As an aspiring mariner should I just do the assessments anyway and have them on file? Cornering an approved assessor is not easy.

For sure, if the opportunity is there take advantage and get the assessments. Just to be clear, there is no "approved" assessor unless you're talking about one within an approved program, like OSV.
For 3rd Mate, you need someone with the appropriate tonnage license and that person would have to review the assessor policy letter for guidance. It was published in 2001, I think. It's on the NMC website. By them signing any assessment, they're attesting to the fact they have reviewed that policy letter. So there is no approval for assessing OICNW.
As far as I know, there is no expiration of assessments or associated STCW classes except the obvious ones such as radar, etc..

[curtgetz]

This is the NMC reply to my question "What are the 1600ton master assessments"?

Mr. Getz,
I have attached policy letter 14-02. This contains the RFPNW assessments. These can be found at www.uscg.mil/nmc. Once on the homepage, select regulations and codes and then select CG policy and guidance.

Thank you for contacting the Mariner Information Call Center.

Jessica Barker
Call Center Specialist
Security Assistance Corp.
Contractor to United States Coast Guard
100 Forbes Drive
Martinsburg, WV 25404
(P) (888) 427-5662
(F) (304)-433-3416
(E) iasknmc@uscg.mil

As of 15-Apr-2009, all merchant mariners are required to hold a valid TWIC card; administered through the TSA. You may contact TWIC by calling 1-866-347-8942 or visit www.tsa.gov/twic


-----Original Message-----
From: curt....[mailto:curt....]
Sent: Saturday, September 19, 2009 5:20 PM
To: D05-SMB-NMC-Questions
Subject: 1600 ton Master Assessments? JB

Where can I find the assessments for a 1600 ton master?

I can't find them through the NMC website?

Thanks,

M. Curt Getz
(910) 616-1232

[Mr 100-ton]

Well Mr. Getz,,,, if you ever want to go back working as an AB you will know were the assessments are,,, maybe you should have asked for the assessments for master any ocean,,, wonder what you would have gotten,,, maybe os requirements

[kzoo pilot]

Don't fret, Ms Barker is the same gal who said that after the NMC signed for my FedEx envelope I should send my info again . . . Consistency, consistency!

My experience with e-mailing the call center or speaking to anyone there is that they have no idea of the license structure, crossovers, or even their own policy letters. You get a reference to something that either doesn't apply or is counter to another policy. Amazing.

[curtgetz]

Yeah, this answer was worthless. Yes, I know about the RFPNW I had to do that for my AB years ago. There are no 1600 ton assessments! I'm so glad that on gCaptain you can get good answers, with supporting links that are not BS.