Coast Guard Licensing - Southwinds, January 2002

- Local News for Southern Sailors - January 2002 Next Story

Changes happening in Coast Guard licensing
By Capt. J. Michael Shea, JD

There are a number of boaters, both professional and recreational, who have taken the time to obtain a United States Coast Guard license. This takes a minimum of 360 days of some kind of boating time, taking a Coast Guard approved course, and passing a Coast Guard test.

Most people take a course offered by one of the approved Coast Guard schools, which now can also administer the test. The licenses are good for five years and then need to be renewed with a medical exam, drug test, and certification of sea time during the most recent five years. Of late, this procedure has gotten a few new wrinkles—the why and what for is the subject of this article.
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The United States has been trying for years to upgrade the requirements for all merchant mariner licenses both in this country and worldwide. The United States became a signer to the International Convention Of Standards Of Training, Certification And Watchkeeping For Seafarers, (STCW) treaty on October 1, 1991. STCW will go into effect as of February 1, 2002, and will require all mariners who stand a watch on a commercial vessel sailing beyond the boundaries of the United States to have a STCW endorsement.
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There is an exception for vessels of less than 200 gross tons sailing on voyages that begin and end at a U.S. port. These voyages have been classified as domestic voyages.
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At first glance this would seem to be of little effect to most of us, as our recreational sailing boats are not (1) commercial and (2) not over 200 gross tons. This is true, but it will also apply to any U.S. vessel going foreign for charterŠlike the Bahamas. This will affect even the "six pack" license—the license most commercial charter captains and sailors have.
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STCW has also resulted in some new restrictions on your licenses when you go to renew the license. If your license is an inland or near coast license, it will now have the designation of "domestic tonnage." This is to show that you are limited to the domestic trips and are not authorized to stand a watch on a foreign trip. If you get the STCW endorsement, the domestic restriction will be removed from your license. The international regulations require any person who is a watchstander to have the additional training. STCW endorsement is a hands- on demonstration of your skill and ability to prove that you are qualified to serve onboard a seagoing vessel.
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Most serious sailors already have the experience and knowledge required in STCW. The biggest change is that it now formalizes the documentation of your ability to perform these tasks. It cannot harm any of us to take the time to get this endorsement. The course is offered by most of the Coast Guard approved schools and is a three-day/70-hour course for those who already have a Coast Guard license. It is becoming part of all new courses offered to new applicants and it is a onetime requirement. Anyone working on their first license must also take an approved basic safe boating course, like those offered by the USCG Auxiliary. For more information, check out www.stcw.org.
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If you are not going to be sailing a vessel over 200 gross tons or a commercial vessel of any tonnage out of this country, your present license is fine. Your license will cover you on bays, harbors, near coast, and inland waters. Anyone working on a vessel going foreign should try to comply with the requirements of STCW.
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For those of you who are starting out and interested in a license, take the USCG Auxiliary course, and if you still feel like you need more knowledge, or just want more knowledge, enroll in one of the schools to take a Coast Guard approved license. They are now approved to not only teach the courses but can also test you and certify you to the Coast Guard. The basic requirements are 18 years of age minimum, citizenship, a physical exam including a drug test, and a minimal security check. Remember, if you are on a sailing vessel and carrying passengers, the minimum you need is the entry "six pack" (with a limit of six passengers) with an auxiliary sail endorsement.
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Professional mariners on the mid-level and upper licenses are required to show time on vessels of the tonnage of the license they are sitting for and, in addition, take courses in radar/GPS and fire fighting. The entry-level course costs approximately $500 and takes several weeks. Most of the schools offer the classes at night and on weekends in addition to day classes. They are offered in many major cities during the year. The other endorsement courses run about $500 per course and are offered in a more limited number of cities. The STCW courses are running full because of the upcoming deadline. If you need this endorsement, you better try and get into a class soon.

Coast Guard licenses are good for a five-year period and must be renewed. There are a number of different options on the renewal, and they depend on the amount of sea time you can show. The more time, the fewer tests. Keep in mind all renewals require a physical and eye exam (which can be done by your doctor) and a drug test that must be done by a Coast Guard approved laboratory. The drug test performed by the Coast Guard labs can show drug usage as far back as six months.
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If you are a professional mariner, the Coast Guard requires drug tests on employment or the changing of employment. The penalty for drug use (either failing the drug screening test or use on a vessel) is the suspension of your license.
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Since the events of last September, the renewal process is taking up to four months from submission until the new license is mailed out. You can renew your license up to 12 months before it expires so start early and be patient. The Coast Guard district offices are so busy that it is often impossible to get them on the phone.
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Any person who is going to skipper a vessel while taking out people on a regular basis needs to think about getting a "six pack" license. It is the basic level of competence for operation of a boat when you are going to be responsible for the lives of others.

Requirements for a U.S.
Coast Guard License:
Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel OUPV (Six-pack )

360 days of experience any size boat in the last three years
Physical exam and drug test
18 years of age
U.S. citizenship (not required for inland license)
CPR and first aid (Any vessel requiring a licensed operator requires one person onboard with a current CPR and first aid card.)
Attend a license prep course and pass the Coast Guard exam. The filing fee for the Coast Guard is $145, and most schools run approximately $500 plus the cost of the physical and drug test—usually $100 - $150. Auxiliary sail endorsement courses are approximately $100 more.
FCC radio operator¹s license if the vessel is 65 feet, carrying passengers, or going to a foreign port.
Radar/GPS — if your vessel is a commercial vessel equipped with radar and/or GPS, the operator must have an endorsement for that equipment. Note: The prep courses now are including the STCW requirements.

Requirements for renewal of six-pack
(and up to the mid-level licenses)

Application form plus filing fee is $ 75 - $150, depending on license.
Physical and drug test
CPR and first aid — current cards not required to renew but required to operate vessel.
Before February 1, 2002, attend a Coast Guard approve STCW course and receive a certificate of attendance.
Also, one of the following:
Show 360 days of operation since issuance or last renewal, or
Take a Coast Guard exam (open book), or
Attend a one-day Coast Guard renewal refresher course.

There is a one-year grace period for renewal after the date of expiration.

Capt. J. Michael Shea is a maritime attorney in Tampa, FL, and holds a masters and harbor pilots license. He has coauthored law books in the maritime field and writes articles on maritime law from time to time.