It seems impossible for me to get info about upgrades for ones ticket. The schools all seem to be promoting expensive long classes. I am not against education which should stop when they bury us at sea. But I have first hand knowledge of crew that have taken courses only to be told by USCG that the course was not necessary. Granted it's important to learn as much as I can to move up to a ticket but I am at a loss to figure out what exactly is needed. Is this guy on the dock just spreading rumors to slight out of malice?
Thank you Triton for not being a censor. I can see your point and wanted to post your response for all to learn from as I did.
You are the best crew mag out there and are rapidly becoming a main source for information. With out pointing any fingers, when you come to trust an institution for years when you hear that it's integrity is at stake it hurts......and you want to vent. I am not trying to blast anyone just trying to start a sane conversation about this issue. To upgrade takes weeks and thousands of dollars. If we are being given bad info then this needs to be discussed. If this is totally wrong then let this come out. So please if you post, no names will be permitted........
Thank you, T., for taking the time to write in the Triton forums.
These forums are intended to be a place of professional discussion where captains, yacht supporting businesses and crew can interact and write about problems and issues that effect the quality of their work. Hopefully, these forums will one day become a community fueled technical support system for the industry.
We often walk a fine line between censoring people (which I am strongly against) and having people defamed (which I'm also strongly against.) We all -- captains, business people, crew, brokers, ect. -- have a tone, a posture and a professionalism that we use when we interact with owners and guests on yachts. As people start to use these forums more and more all I ask is that they carry that professionalism here.
That being said.... Not only are the licensing requirements enormously complicated, they are also changing which makes it very difficult to keep up with. It's interesting that many of the most popular stories and articles, the ones that people read the most on www.the-triton.com, are about licensing requirements.
T. is bringing up the issue of whether or not training schools are abusing this by telling crew to take classes that they don't need to acquire upgraded licenses.
Also, could somebody take the time to outline the course tracks to be taken to acquire the different licenses? Or, perhaps offer informational links to websites that have these tracks listed and explained?
I am following this thread as I am trying to navigate my 7th renewal(!) and I have heard dockside tales of courses taken and not needed but no first hand knowledge. It would be great to hear directly from someone who teaches in regards to this as well as STCW requirments. It would be a great service to all if Triton could help us mariners with this issue that affects us all.
I have been using a "local firm" for over 30 years with zero issues in regards to my ticket and renewals and trust them so I'm curious what is going on with the original poster? I know that the rules are a fluid situation and hard to keep up with so I rely on experts.
One can go to the USCG website for information and forms at:
http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/
EDIT to Add-03/20/2010- I was talking to a crew and he told me about a former USCG officer who now makes his living as a Maritime License Consultant. Mark Grossetti knows his stuff . He can be contacted via email at gro@cglicense.com.
Capt Tedd Greenwald
Go Fourth
Visit http://www.newcaptain.com call listed number for free help on licensing reqmts
Capt B.
I contacted the department of homeland security via email and was given contradicting information as answers to my questions. As the traditional USCG regional exam centers are now no more, it is indeed complicated and frustrating but not impossible to get the info you need if you are persistant. In fact the CFRs are an excellent source believe it or not. I suspect that training schools especially the larger ones here in yachtville USA are out to make as much profit as possible and do push classes that you may or may not need in order to keep their coffers full. However in thier defence, sometimes it is better to anticipate upcoming changes and already have the necessary courses completed. But then why pay for something you wont need for 5 years? I would not hesitate to contact Mark Grossetti as I imagine he is an excellent source of information but of course charges for his services.
We offer the programs Online,
http://www.youtube.com/marinerslearning