Do I qualify for a captains license?
I spent 16 years living and sailing around the world on a 56' Orion Ketch. I have spent the past 3 years on land. I am interested in getting a captains license and running charters out of South Carolina into the Med. Do I still need to have 90 days in the past 3 years, or due to my 16 years of experience, can I just go in and apply for one, take the test and get my license?
Comments
No you don't. . . and furthermore, you know you don't.
I feel real bad for the two guys that gave you good serious answers. Because you and I both know, you don't even come close to qualifying for a Captains license. Nor have you spent 16 years sailing around the world. . .
My question is: Are you 19 years old yet?
Did you join the Army as you claim, or not? Would they even have you?
One thing about the Internet (if you know how to use it) you can find out most anything about anybody on it - including their Dad's name, Mom's name, Step Mom's name, Sister's name and where they live and have lived.
I gave Sailor man a thumbs up. He is absolutely right.
But your problem is far more reaching then qualifying for an OUPV license.
If you are planning charters "to take passengers from the US to the Mediterranean" you are sailing on a very slippery slope. Least of all is the fact that your OUPV license does NOT qualify you to do this, and in fact, limits you to 100 miles off shore US.
That said, I don't think you have any idea what this requires in terms of legal fees and expenses. This is why Charter boats do NOT ferry paid passengers across borders. Charter boats instead, will move their boats to the most popular area for it's most popular season.
If you want to charter in the Caribbean, charter in the Caribbean. If you want to charter in the Med, charter in the Med - but you can't afford to charter passengers from one to the other, and there is a whopping big financial reason that no one does this other than Cruise Ships.
In Mediterranean countries most Charter boat Captains and operators are pulling up anchor and leaving. From Spain to Italy, Croatia, Greece, and Turkey - it is really tough to make a living and stay abreast of the ever changing laws, restrictions and fees.
I strongly suggest you pay a visit to the nearest USCG Maritime Center, and to the US Embassy, as well as pay a visit to a customs House or Lawyer, and you will soon see what I'm talking about, and why no charter boats do this.
John
At this point, a person is only required to have a Captain's License if the boat is used "For Hire" or commercial purposes. The lowest license currently is the "Six-Pack" license. This allows a person to legally transport up to 6 people for money (any boat). The next is the 100 Ton Class License. This applies only to US residents with an US registered boat.
Truthfully the answer is no, you have to have the 90 days in the past 3 years.
In addition: The really bad news may be in proving (to USCG satisfaction) your 360 days of sea time, in addition to the past 90 days in 3 years requirement.
All the "sea time" in the world does you absolutely no good whatsoever when it comes to your USCG requirements, unless you have documented enough of it to meet the requirements to their satisfaction. And, believe me (as I experienced this years ago) they check.
Your must have your log books, with all your sea time logs giving the day, date, time out, time in, departure location, destination, and arrival, as well as names, addresses, phone numbers for other passengers or crew with you, and weather information for your boat's location. (They have a nifty little program they run against your logs, that gives them any discrepancy on the weather for your location during the hours you claim to be on the water.) If you get more than a handful of discrepancies, they may disregard your entire log book.
So, you have to be prepared to show proof of your 360 days plus 90 days sea time within the last 3 years - to their acceptable satisfaction. In fact, for years now, they have been telling everyone to have your passengers or crew (if any) to sign your log book for each leg of the trip they were on your boat.
If you don't have the actual log books for all your sea time - you are going to have real problems. These guys (of course) have seen it all. . . They know how long it takes for someone to get 360 days of sea time, and they know what those log books are going to look like. Going in with a new log book with all new pages and fresh ink, just won't cut it. LOL
You also have to have a TWIC, CPR and First Aid certifications.
Here's the link to the application:
http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/cb_capt.asp
Good luck.
Sorry sonny you have spent far too much time playing with your game cube !
I have read your other questions which leads me to believe you are a spotty face lad playing at being a grown up in your bed room!