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By Christopher J. Edyvean

Most mariners seeking a career as a deck officer do not realize that one doesn’t have to look upon the high seas to find opportunity. A highly efficient regional shipping industry is found bustling along the freshwater shores of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Pennsylvania and New York.

In contrast to the monotonous routine of a long ocean voyage, Great Lakes shipping presents the licensed deck officer with a variety of challenges, such as frequent docking and undocking, loading and discharging, and piloting up and down the scenic lakes and river systems of the “Inland Seas”.

Requirements
Unlike ocean and coastwise waters, the Great Lakes are shielded from the engulfing arm of the STCW world. To work in any capacity on the Great Lakes, a mariner will only need a TWIC card, U.S. Passport and Merchant Mariner Credential for their applicable rating or license.

In addition to the minimum requirement to hold an officer credential as Inland/Great Lakes Mate Any Gross Tons, mates on U.S. flagged Great Lakes vessels of over 1600 gross tons are required to be endorsed as a First Class Pilot upon the waters which their vessel operates.

To obtain these pilotage endorsements, one must first compile a record of observed trips upon the desired waters. This can be done while serving as a cadet, able-seaman, training mate or simply while engaged in an observing capacity.

Trip Documentation
As with any merchant marine credential, the prospective Great Lakes pilot must submit an application to the USCG (Toledo REC) which is to include a record of observed trips. This is commonly referred to as “Trip Verification”.

General requirements for pilotage can be found in 46 CFR 10.701-10.713. Also, Volume 3, Chapter 11 of the Marine Safety Manual adds that proper documentation of trips must include the date, route, time of day, name of vessel and tonnage of vessel and must be properly certified by the Master or pilot.

The American Maritime Officers union prints a Trip Verification Book which is usually available upon request for potential mates/pilots showing interest in their union. For an example of a trip verification form.

Twelve observed round trips are needed on each lake or river system in order to meet the minimum requirements for approval to take an exam, with a minimum of 25% of the trips observed during the hours of darkness and one trip in the six months preceding the application date to establish recency. A round trip must be a complete upbound and downbound passage of the entire body of water. A partial trip will not be counted.

Most mariners obtain their round trips by serving in the capacity of Able-Seaman (Wheelsman). It is in this manner that a mariner will gain the most practical experience. In times of higher demand for pilotage endorsed mates, many companies have been known to employ ocean mates in an observing capacity. Companies also are allowed by a USCG waiver to have one mate serving on board that does not have pilotage, commonly referred to as an “open waters” mate. However, without pilotage there is no job security, no chance of promotion, and little respect from the senior mates and Captain.

The scope (combination of lakes and rivers) of the pilotage route one must build may depend on their company’s requirements or the trade routes of a specific vessel. For example, most companies do not require that one obtain pilotage for Lake Ontario or the Welland Canal since most U.S. flagged Great Lakes vessels do not trade in those waters.

Examinations
A separate exam is required to obtain pilotage for each individual lake or river system, with each exam having three components: Local Knowledge (90%), Light & Shoals (70%), Courses & Distances (90%).

Regarding the chart sketches, exams can be somewhat divided into two categories, lakes or rivers. Chart sketches are done on a 22.5” x 17.5” paper called a “chartlet”, which is a miniature version much like the corresponding nautical chart, showing only a basic outline of the waterway. The chart sketch consists of the Lights & Shoals and Course & Distance segments of the exam.

For the Lights & Shoals portion of a Lakes exam, a series of lights will be assigned. The examinee must place the lights (or buoys) in the proper location on the chartlet and label each with the proper characteristics. For Course & Distance, a list of routes between ports or waterways (generally in an upbound or downbound direction) will be provided and must be properly plotted and labeled on the chartlet.

River exams are much more detailed. The test will instruct to draw either a complete upbound or downbound passage through the entire river system. Each course and distance must be precisely labeled and drawn with high accuracy, with a complete steering narrative. Every aid to navigation must be shown with its characteristics. In addition, notations must be provided detailing prevailing weather characteristics, VTS call-in points, speed limits, Federal Project Depths, anchorage areas, lock dimensions, bridge clearances, tug and pilot information, etc.

The Local Knowledge portion of any exam is a 20 question multiple choice test which will encompass a wide range of topics. Reference material is not allowed for any section of these exams.

Annual Physical Requirements
As per federal regulations, any mariner holding a First Class Pilot endorsement must submit a physical to the USCG annually.

Canada Restrictions
Mariners who have certain types of criminal backgrounds may experience denial of entrance into Canada. Most shipping companies will shy away from potential employees which may present this problem.

Those with Canadian entry problems will have to go through a type of “criminal rehabilitation” which could take years to resolve.

Finding a Job
Almost all deck officers aboard Great Lakes vessels are unionized workers, represented by IOMPP, AMO, MEBA or SIU. Most collective bargaining agreements between maritime unions and companies have established hiring hall procedures for initial employment or at least require union affiliation before hiring.

For a complete A-Z guide on obtaining Great Lakes pilotage, check out “Writing the License: Hawsepiper’s Guide to Great Lakes Pilotage”, available at www.hawsepipe.net.

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Just like with any job to move up the ladder from where you are to where you want to be requires sea experience and Advanced Training. Nothing is given to you as a merchant marine, everything that you do and become is because you have earned it.

Ordinary Seaman, Wipers and Food Handlers, the bottom of the ladder need  advanced training to become Able Seamen, QMED’s and Stewards.

You will each need Basic Safety Training – five days of personal social  responsibilty, personal in-water survival, fire-fighting and first-aid.

When you have the sea time normally 180 to 1080 days of actual sea service you are then eligible to advance yourself and upgrade your MMC to the next higher level.

Able Seaman will also need Lifeboat or Survival-Craft Training, and if your on a tanker you may also need Tankerman -Person in Charge training and Basic/Advanced Fire-fighting. If you do NOT want to go to the Coast Guard and take the examinations for advancing to AB you may take a five day “AB Course” at an approved school instead.

Wipers will need to advance to either Designated Duty Engineer (DDE) or Qualified Member of the Engineering Department (QMED).

Food Handlers work their way to the Steward position. Each career pathway has it’s own particular requirements along the route. Talk to your shipmates and ships officers. Decide if one of these positions will be right for you.

The choices you make early can determine the rest of your career, Choose Wisely.

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STCW Training
Basic Safety Training required for every mariner when you start but also everyone else every five years. STCW Training for the entry-level mariner includes;

1. Personal Safety Training- How to save yourself in the water, lifejackets, liferafts, etc.
2. Personal Social Responsibility – This is Pollution Prevention.
3. Basic Fire-fighting – How to put out fires and save the ship
4. Elementary First-Aid and CPR

This training is a lot of fun. It gives you the opportunity to participate in the same training that the Chief, the Mate and Captain get to do. In the pool, at the fire-farm or in an Medical Lab this training is the first hands-on training you will be required to do.

Remember: Everyone has to repeat this training every five years.
Why? Because if you can’t save yourself, how can you save your shipmates?

What Training is Required by the Coast Guard?

The Coast Guard only requires the Basic Safety Training. Companies though may require more training to not only get hired, but to also advance your career and fill the many skilled and required positions aboard their ship.

Most ships are NOT required to have “entry-level persons”, they are required to have experienced “Able Seaman” on board. This is the
Catch-22, They need experienced and skilled persons, but they don’t need to give you the experience.

It is up to you to get both the Sea-Service experience and the mandatory advanced training needed to advance.

Deckhand Training

Training for deck hands may include; a Deckhand Safety-Orientation, Able Seaman, Lifeboat-man and a course called Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW). This is a big name for Look-out and Helmsman formal training.

Engineering Department Training

If you prefer to work in the engineroom rather than on-deck then there are many training opportunities available to you too.

As you get some sea-service under your belt Qualified Member of the Engineering Watch (QMED)is what you need. The QMED hold many Specialties or “Ratings” that include: oiler, electrician, refridgeration and fireman/watertender. With more OJT Designated Duty Engineer (DDE) is your next step.

With your on-the-job training, sea-service experience and formal training certifications the next career move for you is to qualify as a Third-Assistant Engineer.

Food Handler/Steward

The Ship’s cook has one of the best jobs on the ship. If you want to be a cook or a chef, this is the path for you. Besides being required to have the STCW Basic Safety Training,  the ships cook is responsible for the preparation of all ships meals. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Night Lunch (mid-rations) every ship has there own favorite recipes and eating habits. Mariners are a diverse group. What meals you prepare for the captain, crew and passengers will need to be tasty, nutritious and plentiful.

The Stewards Department personnel are also resonsible for the ordering of all food-stuffs, supplies, delivery, storage and preparation of the meals and the cleanliness of the galley, messdeck, dining rooms.

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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.

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