News From Fort Schuyler

April 12, 1999 - License Renewal and (Mostly) STCW

IMPACT OF STCW - This message from KIRBY STROSS, Class of 1977, Master, USNS LITTLEHALES, currently sailing in the Red Sea, was sent before the distribution of NFFS April 6 issue in which KEVIN COATES, another far-flung correspondent(based on Diego Garcia), refers to the impact of STCW on renewals.

"No-one is mentioning how the new "STCW" (Standards Training Certification & Watchkeeping) for seafarers 1978 as amended in 1995 is/will affect our ability to renew both "Z" cards and our licenses."

"NVIC 8-97 "Information on STCW Requirements published by the USCG contains the myriad of information on what STCW requires as to training and certification."

For Engrs capacity, limitations applying, route, tonnage, type of propulsion, horsepower, if tankerman qualified and "other" limitations will now be indicated on a respective STCW validation and or license and affect the issuance of engr licenses and seaman document 'Z' cards."

"For Deck Officers: capacity, limitations applying, route, tonnage, tankerman-PIC, (if qualified)."

"Being a Deck Officer I'm not conversant in what training Engrs will need to meet the '95 STCW mandates."

"Deck Officers will have to be trained as follows: by Feb 01, 2002. For vessels that operate past the boundary line, i.e., 3 mile limit.

ARPA Radar Course (one time)
GMDSS Communications (one time)
Bridge Team Resource Management (one time)
Medical-First Aid Course (one time)
Advance Fire Fighting Course (one time-perhaps each five yrs)
Basic Safety Training Modules (every five yrs)
Radar Renewal (every five years)
PIC (Person In Charge-Tankerman) one time-perhaps each five years)"

"Additionally, all mariners must be trained within 'Vessel Familiarization Requirements'. This mirrors the Basic Safety Training Modules. The USCG gave us mariners sailing the opportunity to perform a "relaxed assessment" evaluation that had to be completed onboard by Dec 31, 1998. This comprised a checklist that was completed by an onboard 'assessor'. For our operating company, the Chief Mates and Masters were given this task, however, any deck officer can verify the BST training was completed. The AMO and MMP unions provided very definitive guidance regarding how to do the checklists. Bottom-line, is this allows we mariner's to be grand-fathered in as opposed to after 31 Dec 98 having to attend another course for basic training that we already have had."

"Interested to see how this will affect our U.S. Merchant Marine and people pool after the year 2002. I know the Maritime and Union schools have, or will soon have, implemented the perquisite courses."

COAST GUARD GETTING A MOVE ON? - This from KAREN (CARPENTER) ARNO, Class of 1994:"I don't know if this good news or bad news, but I was recently at the USCG New York. While I was there, the woman behind the counter told me that these offices would be closing down and centralizing in Virginia. There won't be anymore face to face contact. Everything will have to be done through the mail. This may lead to more consistency. That is the only good side I can see. I wonder what is going to happen when you run into a last minute emergency? I have run into the CG office a few times to get a new requirement covered so I could meet a ship the following day. We all know how this industry works. You can't always plan ahead." In a follow-up note, Karen wrote that: "Although I am not sailing presently, I plan to still keep my license active. (It took 4 years to get it. I'm not going to just give it up.) .... Regardless of the difficulties that we all have when dealing with the USCG, at least we presently can argue with someone fact to face. I feel taking that option away will only make the situation all the more frustrating and slow."

CALL FOR ACTION - An alumnus coming up for his second renewal, naval architect ROB MICHAELSON, Class of 1989, has a suggestion: "As alums of the finest maritime institution in the country (or so we were told) perhaps we could organize our grievances and work to change things. With a unified voice we have more clout the griping on our own, The grads from the other maritime schools must have similar complaints, and as a group we have a loud voice if we speak together. Let's do something about this renewal hassle, instead of while on our own with no results." [EDITOR: The Alumni Association discussion list might a good place to develop an action agenda.]

AND A FINAL WORD - This note from LEN SUTTER, Class of 1953: "I would be a menace to navigation if I tried to sail on my old Second Mate's License."

EDITOR'S NOTE - Due to the specialized subject of this issue, it was only distributed to alumni and faculty subscribers.