For your convenience, we have assembled below a list of the most
common questions that we receive from prospective students. If you
have any questions about obtaining a U.S.C.G. license through Sea
Tech Marine Training, please check this FAQ first for a possible
answer.
If you still have any unanswered questions and/or a
special situation or circumstance, please feel free to send us an
email with your specific questions or concerns.
- How
to document Sea Service time?
- Difference
between Master's and OUPV (or "6-Pak") License?
- Is
ocean time acceptable?
- What
about a DWI conviction?
- What
are age requirements for a license?
- How
difficult is the physical?
- What
about the drug test?
- How
long is the license good for?
- License
use and license renewals.
- Is
color blindness a problem?
- What
responsibility for reckless third party operation?
- Documenting
Sea Service on another's boat.
- My license is expiring, how do I renew it?
- I understand ocean time is no longer required to obtain a Near Coastal License.
- Question 1: I
understand to receive a license, I need to document time. I don't
keep a log, so how do I do this?
- Answer: No log is
required. You complete what is called a Sea Service Affidavit.
Your time is self-documented. To qualify for a license you simply
complete and sign the form. You are required to have 360 on water
days and you can go back to your 15th birthday.
- Question 2: What is the
difference between the Master's License and the so called
6-pak?
- Answer: The 6-pak is
actually an Operator Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV). Holders
of this license are permitted to take up to six (6) paying
passengers on a boat that the Coast Guard does not
inspect.
The Master's license allows you to operate vessels
with more than six passengers. However these vessels must be
inspected by the USCG and are issued what is called a Certificate
of Inspection. The Master's license also allows some commercial
operation.
The Masters and OUPV (6-pak) licenses have the
same qualifications. As it is easy to upgrade to the Masters
level, most students do receive the Masters license.
- Question 3: I have
ocean time, can I still take your
course?
- Answer: The courses are
generic. What determines your geographic route and tonnage is an
evaluation of your sea service affidavit. If you have 90 days
ocean time, you will receive a license good for not only inland
waters, but 100 miles off shore.
- Question 4: Can I
receive a license with a Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) charge?
- Answer: It depends on
the age of the DWI and the circumstances, but in most cases the
answer is yes.
- Question 5: How old do
you have to be to qualify for a license?
- Answer: Eighteen (18)
years old for the OUPV (6-pak) and nineteen (19) for the Master's
license.
- Question 6: How
difficult is the physical?
- Answer: Basic health. No
blood work or x-rays are required. If you are in reasonable
health, you should qualify. Your family physician can do the
physical.
- Question 7: What about
the drug test?
- Answer: You must submit
to the USCG a negative drug screen to receive your license. The
drug screen must be administered at a site and lab on the Coast
Guard's approved location list.
- Question 8: How long is
the license good for?
- Answer: The license is
issued for five (5) years and then must be renewed. Renewing is a
simple process. There are no courses or exams required.
- Question 9: I was told
that if I get my license and don't use it, I cannot renew it.
- Answer: This is simply
not true. Once you receive your license, you can renew it, even if
you have no sea time and never operated under its authority.
- Question 10: I would
like a license but I am color blind. Do I qualify?
- Answer: Yes, but you
would receive a license good for daytime operation only.
- Question 11: If I have
a USCG license and I am on a friend's boat and he is operating it
recklessly and ends up in an accident, am I responsible as a
licensed captain?
- Answer: No, there is no
added responsibility, unless you are operating under the license's
authority as a captain.
- Question 12: All my sea
time is on other people's boats, how do I
qualify?
- Answer: Simply have them
sign the sea service form documenting that you served on their
boat.
- Question 13: My license is expiring, how do I renew it.
- Answer: OK, it's simple, go to www.uscg.mil/nmc and you will see a section for application forms. Print out the three page application, form 719B, the physical form, 719K, the drug test form, 719P, and the sea service form, 719S. If you are a member of a consortium, you will need a special letter from them exempting you from the drug screen. They do not accept your wallet card and this letter must be no older than 30 days when your package is received at the REC. You need to document 360 days in the past five years. Send the above to USCG-REC, 420 Madison, Suite 700, Toledo, OH 43604. Include a check for $95 made out to the USCG. You do not need First Aid or CPR to renew. You do not need TWIC. As long as you had TWIC at one time, you are good to go. You will see a box on the application form that you check exempting you from TWIC. Renewals can take anywhere from 3-4 weeks to up to 8-10 weeks depending on the activity at the Maritime Center in WV. From November to March, renewals will be much quicker than during there very busy time, April to July.
- Question 14: I underatand ocean time is no longer required to obtain a Near Coastal License.
- Answer: Yes, as of March 2014, Great Lakes time can be substituted for Ocean time. Anyone with a credential for Inland/Great lakes can easily upgrade by taking a short course and two exam modules from us. This would result in being issued a license valid for Near Coastal Waters up to 200 miles offshore any ocean.
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