Officer In Charge of a Navigational Watch
The Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch or OICNW, is the captain or mate on the watch. Currently, MOST captains and mates on commercial vessels of 200 GRT up to 1600 GRT and working international voyages are required to be OICNW certified.
There are BIG CHANGES coming to the license endorsements in these sizes of vessels. Waivers for tug-boat and OSV licenses are going away soon. The Coast Guard issued a NPRM -Notice of Proposed Rulemaking in November 2009; this NPRM will make many license changes with the desire to make the merchant marine licenses and requirements comply with the IMO – International Maritime Organization rules.
The Coast Guard will allow you to renew your license but NOT upgrade without the OICNW endorsements after the new rules go into effect.
Some of the license changes will remove the 200 GRT and 500 GRT license categories. Licenses will go from 100 GRT to 1600 GRT and require you to have the OICNW endorsements.
OSV Captains and the new “OSV Chief Mate” will be hit twice, first with the need to be OICNW endorsed but ALSO “Management Level” …read “Chief Mate/Master training and assessments”.
OICNW merchant license endorsements will be required for most vessels over 100 GRT operating BEYOND THE DEMARCATION LINE. This means that the “Near Coastal” endorsement will go away, but a “Domestic voyage only” restriction is also in the works.
Captains and Mates will need formal training courses in each of the following topics:
- Terrestrial and Coastal NavigationCompasses Radar Observer
- Fire-fighting, Basic and Advanced
- ARPA – Automatic Radar Postioning Aids
- Electronic Navigation
- Celestial Navigation
- Basic Meteorology
- Basic Stability
- Cargo Handling and Stowage
- Medical First Aid Provider
- Basic Shiphandling
- Watchkeeping / Bridge Resource Management
Note: GMDSS is not required for your license, but may be needed if your ship is GMDSS equipped.
You will also need to complete Seventy-Eight (78) Assessments of Skill. Take a look at the NVIC links at the bottom of the page for the Coast Guard official documents. Most of the time the courses will include specific assessments, so make sure you get the complete list of courses and assessments for your use.
The OICNW training courses can be completed all at one time in about a six month period, or they can be spread out over a year or two. Check with our advertisers on this site for OICNW courses in your area.
MarineDocuments.com recommends that you find out what rule changes are coming, educate yourself to the process and all the new requirements then let us help you build a personal training plan for you.
