Information sources for a prospective license.

[Retired Rat]

hi everyone,<br><br>I'm finally getting off my butt and getting my ticket. I'll be going for a QMED with a load of endorsements. My eventual goal is to get on the towboats along the MS or OH rivers, Somewhere like kirby. For now I'll probably get some blue water time with MSC. I retired from the USN 2 1/2 years ago, so, sadly, no recency for a DDE. I have about 14 years of actual sailing time, another 5 of 'on a ship-pierside'. I've done everything from ballast pump to watch officer on a twin screw GT plant. knowing the NMc awards @ 60%, i should be fine there.<br><br>now to questions.<br><br>A few years ago there was a big initiative to cross-credit certain items, ie, BST-STCW, and a few other items, such as firefighting. There used to be an organization called Center for Surface operations, which has been absorbed into the Center for naval engineering. They supposedly have the data, but despite calling them numerous times, sending e-mail requests, and visiting them, ( i still live in Norfolk) i can't get any of that info in paper form. Anybody out there have an electronic copy of it?<br><br>Thoughts on documenting sea service? i have a complete copy of my service record. Will evals, history of assignments be sufficient, (throw in a DD214 for added measure)?<br><br>My current job lets me get on ships, but it's a "no-promotion, no-incentive to do more than required" job.<br><br>I'd love any ideas people might have. Thanks,<br>Rat

[Cheng]

The majority of your questions will be answered if you log onto the USCG website and look at the info package, here is the link. http://www.uscg.mil/NMC/st-info-packs/General_Package.pdf<br><br><strongr style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);]<span style="background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); color: rgb(192, 0, 0);]"I'll be going for a QMED with a load of endorsements." </span><br></strongr>Without a QMED you can't sit for any engineering license. <br>Even the lowest license: DDE 1,000 HP, you would have to hold your QMED for a minimum of 180 days. I have heard of some guys bypassing the QMED requirement with other
qualifing experience but you would have to check with the REC. Below is a list of possible entry level licenses and service requirements. <strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<br><br>Unlimited Engineer Licenses: One-third of service must be on each propulsion for which applied; half of service on vessels of 4,000 hp or more or a horsepower limitation will apply. See 46 CFR 10.503 for horsepower limitations.<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<br><br>3rd Assistant (46 CFR 10.516): 1080 days service in the engine room with 720 days as QMED, or 360 days as Chief Engineer (Limited-Near Coastal)<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]Limited Engineer Licenses: One-third of service must be on each propulsion for which applied; half of service on vessels of 4,000 hp or more or a horsepower limitation will apply, except for DDEs. See 46 CFR 10.503 for hp limitations.<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);] <br><br>Designated Duty Engineer (46 CFR 10.524):<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<br>1000 hp: 360 days service in the engine room with 180 days as QMED or equivalent supervisory position<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<br><br>4000 hp: 720 days service in the engine room with 360 days as QMED or equivalent supervisory position<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<br><br>Any hp: 1080 days service in the engine room with 540 days as QMED or equivalent supervisory position<br><br><strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]Assistant Engineer (Limited-Oceans) (46 CFR 10.522): 1080 days service in the engine room with 540 days as QMED<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<br><br>Get an application, fill it out, bring it to the nearest REC and have it evaluated. They will tell you what you can sit for.<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);] If you get approved to test, it will be a good idea to study. The material is not too tough, it just covers a lot of areas. Depending on the license there is software that will make studing easier. Check the following links...<br><br><strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]http://hawsepipe.net/<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<br><br>http://www.seasources.net/index.html<strongr style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);]<br><br></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr> <span style="background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); color: rgb(192, 0, 0);]I retired from the USN 2 1/2 years ago, so, sadly, no recency for a DDE.</span><br>With 2 1/2 years you should be OK. The recency requirement is the three years immediately preceding the application date.<br> <strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<strongr style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0);]<br><span style="background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230); color: rgb(192, 0, 0);]"A few years ago there was a big initiative to cross-credit certain items"</span> <br><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); color: rgb(17, 17, 17);]Don't know anything about it. Not saying it doesn't exist but I have never heard anything about it. Sort of like the Yeti... Call the NMC.</span><strongr style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]<span style="color: rgb(192, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(230, 230, 230);]<br><br>"Thoughts on documenting sea service?"<br><span style="color: rgb(17, 17, 17); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255);]The USCG will decipher your record and give you a number of days. The stuff you mentioned will be sufficient for them to get it<br><br>You want to work on the rivers? Call around and talk with the local boat companies. <span style="text-decoration: underline;]<strong>EVERYONE</strong></span><strong> </strong>is looking for engineers. You could get on as an unlicensed engineer (the pay is much lower than a licensed position, but it will be more than MSC unlicensed personnel) and test (if approved). The experience on smaller boats couldn't hurt you and you might decide the inland boats may not be where you want to work. All before you put in all the time and effort to get your license.<br><br>I have been testing for one engineering license or another the past fifteen years. If you have specific questions, I would be happy to help if I can.<br><br>Good luck.<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 223, 191);]</strongr></span><strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 223, 191);]<strongr style="background-color: rgb(255, 223, 191);]<br><br><br><br></strongr></strongr></span></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr></strongr>