MaritimeLicensing.com

Good day to you all.  I thought I would share this e-mail with you that I received over the weekend.  I can hear the anger and frustration in this and once again I would like to apologize for the NMC for creating yet another happy and satisfied customer.

This person has every right to feel this way, you and I have felt this way many times and I know I have surpassed his/her frustration level by a magnitude of thousands over my years with the REC, so believe me, I do not take this personally.

Touch Keys with you later,

N.

Queston:
In reading your 5-19-09 Blog, “Are my services really necessary?”, I’d have to say no. It’s not that I doubt you are an expert in this area. I too have studied the CFR’s, MSM, STCW Code, etc, etc. The problem itself is the morons at the NMC. Submitting an application for a credential renewal,raise-of-grade (whatever it be)is a gamble at best. You know what you should get, but who knows what you WILL get. So no, I would not pay $25 for an answer I could research on my own. (I would probably provide a blank check, however, to have a competent person at the NMC handle my paperwork, provided such a person works there). The problem is, just because it IS a regulation means nothing. It’s all about how the untrained NMC evaluator interprets your application.

Hello every one, sorry it has been such a long time since I have posted, but have been very busy, but I do apologize for not doing my job and rattling cages.

As you all know, the new Merchant Mariners Credential (MMC) has been out since April 15th of this year and has, and still is, causing the mariner and the employer untold headaches not to mention lost job opportunities.  Here is the deal.  NMC is not placing certain STCW rating codes on the new MMC.

For instance, I have had several mariners, where they are currently holding a 95 STCW certificate that specifically states that they are holding Master Ocean 1600 (Officer in Charge of a Navigation Watch); AB-Unlimited (Rating Forming Part of a Navigation Watch); and Lifeboatman.

The new MMC STCW codes only state that the mariner is holding the Master Ocean 1600 - it does not state that s/he is OICNW in the body of the MMC only the STCW Code is listed nor does it state that s/he is RFPNW qualified in the body of the MMC and no reference code is on the MMC.

This makes taking your MMC to an employer and wanting a job as AB rather than master or mate almost impossible because the MMC does NOT STATE that s/he is qualified as AB with RFPNW.

Here is rub, NMC is saying that they will not place RFPNW on a MMC because ‘IT IS INHERENT IN THE QUALIFICATION OF OICNW.’ (You can read all about that in NVIC 6-00.)  This also goes for Engineers as well.

Ok, I suppose I can live with that, IF AND ONLY IF, every person out there in the industry knows what the (*(( is inherent to every license.   I am in a unique position because I have been there and done that and have the means to look it up, BUT the average mariner and most company Human Resource Offices’ DON’T KNOW THAT!  Do you know what is “inherent” to your license? Probably not.

I understand the extra effort it takes the NMC to place this endorsement on the STCW (all of 3 seconds and 1 key stroke) it is after all saving them time.  HOWEVER, it is killing jobs for many of you out there.  I understand that if it is inherent in the job why place it on there, but not all of us know what is or is not inherent in our jobs.  The least NMC could do is take that extra time and make life easier for all of you and put on there new MMC II/4, whats the big flippin deal?

I received this hand out from a mariner.  This hand out was sent to him by someone at NMC (no names were given) and it was written in 2006 and I may be mistaken, but I think that there have been a few changes since this was written.

I very strongly suggest that each and everyone of you copy off the bottom portion of this and attach it to the back of your MMC so that you can show your prosepctive employer.

STCW  95 FORM REGULATIONS

I.     DECK OFFICERS

1. Reg. II/1   OICNW (Mates except Chief Mates (500 gross tons or more, inc. AGT)
2. Reg. II/2   OICNW (Masters and Chief Mates (500 gross tons or more, inc. AGT)
3. Reg. II/3   OICNW (Masters and mates (less than 500 gross tons)
4. Reg. V/1   Masters and mates on tankers (Tankerman PIC)

II.     ENGINEER OFFICERS

(NOTE:  The STCW uses the term “second engineer officer” as equivalent to the United States first assistant engineer).

1.  Reg. III/1   OICEW (Second and Third assistant engineers, assistant engineers (limited) and DDE).
2. Reg. III/2    OICEW (Chief engineers and First assistant engineers 4,000 HP (3,000 Kw) or more).
3. Reg. III/3    OICEW (Chief engineers and First assistant engineers between 1000 HP (750 Kw) and 4,000 (3000 Kw)).
4. Reg. V/1       Engineer officers on tankers (Tankerman (PIC), Engineer, Assistant) (NOT barges).

III.   OPERATORS OF UNINSPECTED PASSENGER VESSELS (OUPV) AND MASTER OF TOWING VESSELS (MTV)

The OUPV and MTV licenses are NOT valid for international voyage, no STCW need be issued and the licenses will be endorsed with the following:

“For domestic voyages only, the hold of this license meets the STCW 1995 regulations with out further endorsement”.

IV.   RATINGS FORMING PART OF A NAVIGATIONAL WATCH

Rating Forming Part of a Navigation Watch (RFPNW) is an inherent qualification of all Officers in Charge of a Navigation Watch (OICNW) and-is not entered as a regulation for mariners qualified as master or mate (OICNW)

            Reg. II/4   RFPNW (Able seaman and specially trained ordinary seaman).

Specially trained ordinary seaman must provide evidence of meeting the training and experience requirements of STCW-95 regulation II/4 satisfactory to the Officer in Charge of Marine Inspection To qualify for this endorsement.  (RFFPNW assessments are found in NMC Policy 04-01).

Touch Keys with you later, and don’t forget, if you have questions, just ask and I’ll get you the answers.

 N.