To Lifeboatman or PSC, that is the question

**Retired Rat** · November 25th, 2008, 05:40 AM

So, as I am in the final stages of putting my package together, for work in the GOM, and other, non-voyage type jobs, so is it worth the time and effort to get a lifeboatman STCW endorsement, so just stick with a PSC?

**Capt_Anonymous** · November 25th, 2008, 06:57 AM

I'd advise that since you're already in the mode, get it. You'll not regret having it. Not having it may keep you from jobs you'd otherwise be qualified to take.

**Retired Rat** · November 25th, 2008, 07:07 AM

Looking at the course curriculum from a couple of local schools, i was left wondering, how many lifeboats are currently out there on US flagged ships that utilize oars? The SL-7's have a unique hand-powered crank, similar to the civil war CSS Hunley, but oars??
Sure wish there were schools that offered evening/weekend classes. So far, I'm going to burn a year's vacation time just to take these classes, plus the lost wages. I must wanna do this awful bad!!

**Robert** · November 25th, 2008, 08:34 AM

Well Retired Rat. You will find that all CG approved courses for PSC will have the wonderful little oar section. It is a Coast Guard requirement. I have no idea why that still is but I admit that getting out there under oars can be great on a nice day (at least for me since I'm just supervising!).

Robert Thomas

Maritime Department Head

Alaska Maritime Training Center

Alaska Vocational Technical Center

**Capt_Anonymous** · November 25th, 2008, 04:31 PM

You'll find there is, at all levels of the Coast Guard testing and licensing process, a host of obsolete, outdated, unused, quaint, irrelevant, ridiculous, unnecessary, improbable, incomprehensible, inapplicable, unknown, crusty, dusty, and musty training requirements and test questions you just have to deal with in order to get out into the real world. Part of the game, Rat.

**Capt. Lee** · November 25th, 2008, 07:28 PM

Survival craft do have oars. One on each side with a metal holder to lay the oar in. Of course the doors have to be open. Row boy!

**chaos** · November 26th, 2008, 01:17 AM

Rat, Check with the school where you took PSC. I know that the PSC course at Chouest covers lifeboatman. Maybe yours dose too. It will be in the schools approval letter. The schools usually have those hanging on a wall or just ask the school Manager.

**jdcavo** · November 26th, 2008, 03:43 AM

Handling a lifeboat under oars is required per 46 CFR 12.10-5(b)(2). Unless/until that regulation is chqanged, handling a boat under oars will be part of Lifeboatman/Proficiency in Survival Craft courses.
Unless a course has the words "Limited" or "Restricted" in the title, it is probably approved to icnlude lifeboats. You don't need to get a copy of the letter from the school, you can check yourself at: http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/mmic_appcourses.asp
James D. Cavo

Chief, Mariner Training & Assessment Division

USCG National Maritime Center

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

**New3M** · November 26th, 2008, 05:18 AM

Speaking of obsolete, how about blinker light?

**Capt_Anonymous** · November 26th, 2008, 05:38 AM

_____ _ _____ _____ _ _ ____ _ _ _ _

**jdcavo** · November 26th, 2008, 05:59 AM

Flashing light will be harder. One of the STCW competencies for Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch is "Transmit and Receive Information By Visual Signaling." As long as this is in STCW, flashing light will be required. The best we can do is to make it a one-time requirement on the first STCW certification as OICNW, and do away with the reqquirement to repeat at every upgrade of an unlimited tonnage license. We are considering this as part of the rulemaking that will fully implement STCW.
James D. Cavo

Chief, Mariner Training & Assessment Division

USCG National Maritime Center

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