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| Rating Forming Part of a Navigational Watch |
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Merchant Mariner's Documents (MMD) & Non-Qualified Ratings |
| 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's Document (MMD. also called a Z-Card). There are several levels of ratings you can obtain on your Merchant Mariners Document.
An MMD 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.
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MMD - 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 Documents 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 an OICNW License. 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 Able Seaman.
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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