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Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch
(RFPNW)
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Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) & Non-Qualified Ratings |
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If you are working on a commercial U.S. Flagged vessel over 100GRT, you are required to carry a U.S. Coast Guard issued Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC). There are several levels of ratings you can obtain on your Merchant Mariners Credential.
An MMC will be endorsed with all of your unlicensed ratings. Unlicensed ratings can be qualified or non-qualified. The non-qualified ratings include food handler (FH), wiper, ordinary seaman (OS), and steward's department (SD). Non-qualified ratings do not necessarily require any formal training or examination at the USCG. There are
exceptions to this rule though, for instance if you will be standing a watch as a lookout or if your duties include designated safety or pollution prevention duties, you will be required to satisfy certain parts of STCW as amended.
A Rating Forming part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW), i.e. lookout, is considered a "Specially Trained Ordinary Seaman" (STOS). which requires training to satisfy the requirements in Table A-II/4 of the STCW Code's practical competency assessments, and Basic Safety Training (BST). If you are an OS on the station bill
with safety duties, you are required to complete BST.
The
different ways to satisfy the RFPNW training and assessment requirements,
but remember, completion of Basic Safety Training is required in all cases:
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RFPNW "Lookout Duties
Only" |
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A mariner who completes a
RFPNW Lookout Duties Only training course may be issued an interim
STCW; valid for 1 year from the date of issue & may not be
renewed. |
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Ratings Forming Part of a
Navigation Watch (RFPNW)
180 days of approved seagoing service; or
An approved course, plus approved seagoing service
specified by the course/program; AND
Assessments 1-1A through 3 -2A;
Note1: RFPNW assessments must be signed
by 2nd Mate or higher (Master 500/1600 – OK) employed on the vessel
& holding an appropriate STCW; also, all steering & helm
assessments occurred on a vessel of at least 100GRT or a full mission
simulator of at least 200 GRT / 500 GT.
Note 2: 50% of required
service must be on vessels at least 200 GRT / 500 GT. The other 50%
must meet the same requirements as AB. |
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RFPNW alternatives |
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Proof of one year of
sea service in a relevant capacity within the deck department between
1 October 1986 and 30 September 1991; OR |
PL 14-02 enclosure (1) |
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Proof of completion
of Navy PQS for both: Helmsman (No. 305) and Lookout (No. 302); AND
maintained one year of sea service within
every five years. (U.S. Navy course approval for Helm & Lookout) |
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RFPNW Limited to OSVs |
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Completion of an approved
RFPNW Program (sea service may be required; check course approvals) |
PL 07-00
Section V |
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MMC - Qualified Ratings
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Qualified Ratings are unlicensed ratings that show that you are "qualified" for certain positions such as Able Seaman. Qualified Member of the Engine Department, Tankerman, Medical Person In Charge,
etc. To obtain a qualified rating, you must complete several prerequisites including sea time experience, assessments, training and in some cases a written examination. The following information will outline the requirements for an endorsement as Able Seaman. For specific information on Tankerman or Medical Person In Charge, please ask us during
registration. |
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Able Bodied Seaman
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On inspected commercial vessels over 100 gross tons a specified percentage of the deck crew must hold Merchant Mariner's Credentials endorsed as Able Seaman. An Able Seaman (AB) document is also necessary for you to upgrade your Master's License, obtain or Oceans Route on your license or be approved for the OICNW STCW
certification. The level of Able Seaman you qualify for is determined by the amount of sea time you have, the size of the vessels, as well as the waters they were operated on. Our 6 day USCG Approved Program is approved to satisfy testing requirements for any Able Seaman Endorsement.
Note: STCW Requirements, including but not limited to Practical Assessments for RFPNW. Basic Safety Training, Proficiency in Survival Craft or Lifeboatman must be completed separately from the Able Seaman Course.
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ABLE SEAMAN (ANY WATERS) UNLIMITED
* See note at bottom of this page regarding Character of Qualifying Service for Able Seaman |
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ABLE SEAMAN LIMITED
* See note at bottom of this page regarding Character of Qualifying Service for Able Seaman |
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ABLE SEAMAN SPECIAL
** May vary somewhat from one Coast Guard Regional Examination Center to the next. |
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Character Of Qualifying Service for Able Seaman
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Background.
The sea service requirements for the able seaman ratings are set forth in 46 U.S.C. 7307 through 7311a. The source statute as recodified in 1983 was 46 U.S.C. 672. Originally, that statute provided for three types of able seaman ratings. The service required for what are now AB-Unlimited
and AB-Limited had to be on vessels of 100 gross tons or more. In 1980, Congress modified the statute to, among other things, provide an orderly ladder of advancement based on experience levels. It created the current AB ratings and specified the required sea service to qualify for each. It eliminated the minimum vessel size requirement for qualifying
sea service toward AB-Unlimited. It specified that the service must be service on deck and it defined "service on deck." |
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