2/M unlimited to 1600t master?

[rwleo]

I was just wondering what is on the test that a 2M takes to get his 1600 ton master. I have asked several people, and gotten several different answeres. I believe it's mailnly ships buisiness, but I've also been told that it includes rules of the road, and some deck general. I've had some people tell me that they were given a rules test in addition to the 70 queston test .
I want to do a little bit of studying beofre taking the test and want to know what area to concentrate in. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

[anchorman]

All of the above minus the rules. You only need a 70%.......kinda hard not to pass with little effort as a 2nd.

[Jeffrox]

That test had what one would would expect on it, but the most significant thing I remember about it were lots and lots of questions about ice, bergey bit, pancake, blue, growlers, bergs, etc, etc and how to navigate and shiphandle in it and around it, etc. Study that!

[jdcavo]

If you already have 2nd Mate, or are taking it at the same time, you only take a "partial" test for Master 1600 Tons. It's 50 questions with a 70% passing grade, the questions are the navigation general, deck general, and deck safety questions covered ion the "full" Master 1600 exams but not on the 2nd Mate exam. You can check what exams are needed for any license upgrade, tonnage increase, etc. in the Deck Exam Guide: http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/mmic_deckexquest.asp The section covering this one is on page 2-12, foot note 7. Note that if you're taking this partial as part of an upgrade to 2nd Mate, you have to take and pass all the 2nd Mate modules before you cqan take the "partial" for Master 1600.
The rules of the road test is required for any raise in grade or increase in scope (route change) if you haven't taken a rules test in the past year. This is likely why some they had to take one while others didn't.
By the way, once the USCG publishes regs fully implementing STCW, the traditional "crossover" from 2nd Mate to Master 1600 will shift to Chief Mate for most. One obvious reason is the "management level" traiing for TCW and also because the minimum sea time for 2nd Mate is less than the STCW minimum for Master. So you won't be able to take the Master 1600 test as soon as you qualify for 2nd Mate.
James D. Cavo

Chief, Mariner Training & Assessment Division

USCG National Maritime Center

<font color="#3354aa]James.D.Cavo@uscg.mil</font>

[New3M]

What if you're in the new rules of not having to take the 2/M exam, but just upgrading? Is the 1600 Master test still the same, or is it something different?

[jdcavo]

See the exam guide footnote I refrenced. You'd take the "partial" and the rules test.
James D. Cavo

Chief, Mariner Training &amp; Assessment Division

USCG National Maritime Center

<font color="#3354aa]James.D.Cavo@uscg.mil</font>