What captain licenses are available?
Here is a simple matrix to help explain the types of Merchant Mariner Credentials (Captain Licenses) that are available. Your starting point depends on your sea service. Inland refers to any waters that are not Great Lakes or Near Coastal. Great Lakes and interconnecting waters also include Inland waters. Near Coastal refers to any waters outside a boundary line set by Code of Federal Regulation. Normally this is off shore in open ocean. However, a recent code change now makes any Great Lakes sea servce count towards Near Coastal sea service time. Check the NMC checklist to get the exact amount of time required.
Let's look at the license upgrade process.
Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel is the starting point for most captain's licenses. This course includes the Rules of the Road, Plotting, Boat Handling and emergency topics. Other courses build on this base knowledge.
| OUPV | ||
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OUPV Inland Great Lakes(IGL) 54 hour class with four exams Inland Rules of the Road 30 questions 90% Plotting 10 questions 90% Navigation General 50 questions 70% Deck General and Safety 50 questions 70%
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Bridge to Near Coastal requires IGL to NC course Two 50-question exams 70% Deck General/Safety Navigation General Plus International Rules of the Road 50-questions 90% |
OUPV NearCoastal (NC) 56 hours with 4 exams Inland/International Rules of the Road 50 questions 90% Plotting 10 questions 70% (will change within 2 years) Navigation General 20 questions 70% (will change within 2 years) Deck General and Safety 60 questions 70% (will change within 2 years) |
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OUPV Upgrade to Masters up to 100 ton IGL 15 hour Course with one 50-question exam |
Bridge to Near Coastal requires IGL to NC course with two exams Two 50-question exams 70% Deck General/Safety Navigation General Plus International Rules of the Road 50-questions 90%
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OUPV Upgrade to Master up to 100 ton NC 24 hours with one 70-question exam 70% |
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OUPV to Mate 200 Ton One 70-question exam 70% With sea service, you can upgrade to 200 Master with no additional exams |
Two 50-question exams 70% Deck General/Safety Navigation General |
OUPV to Mate 200 Ton One 70-question exam 70% With sea service, you can upgrade to 200 Master with no additional exams |