Columbia Pacific Maritime Information
Columbia Pacific Maritime Home Page
Course approvals and schedule for USCG approved courses
Workbooks for USCG approved courses
Information about Columbia Pacific Maritime
How to contact Columbia Pacific Maritime
Information on USCG Merchant Marine Licenses
Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) or 6-pack license information
Master 100 ton license information, this includes Master 25 tons and Master 50 tons
Master or Mate 200 ton license information, this includes Master and Mate 150 tons
Master / Mate of fishing industry vessels license information
Master and Mate of towing vessel license information
Able Seaman and Ordinary Seaman credential information
Radar observer courses for original issue and renewal
STCW 95 Visual Communications (Flashing Light) information
Celestial Navigation for adding an
Assistance towing and auxiliary sail endorsements for existing licenses
USCG Merchant Marine license information
Documenting the qualifying sea service experience is the first step to qualifying for a USCG Merchant Mariner Credential
Getting a Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC) is the second step in getting a Merchant Mariner Credential
Completing the USCG application is the third step in getting a Merchant Mariner Credential
General information regarding resources, student feedback, emploment and license questions
Information on how to become an Oregon fishing guide or Charter Boat operator
USMariner.info news and information forums
Lodging and other resources in the Portland area
Columbia Pacific Maritime provides USCG approved courses for Merchant Mariner Credentials.
Call (503) 841-6066 for more information or to schedule a class.
USCG Approved Courses for OUPV, Master, Mate and Able Seaman
Columbia Pacific Maritime LLC provides US Coast Guard (USCG) approved
training courses that can be used to meet the USCG exam requirements for:

  • Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV) Captain's License
  • Master 25 through 200 tons Captain's License
  • Master and Mate of Fishing Industry Vessels
  • Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels
  • Able Seaman
  • Radar Observer
  • Flashing Light
  • Celestial Navigation
  • Auxiliary Sail endorsement
  • Assistance Towing endorsement

All courses offered by Columbia Pacific Maritime are USCG approved to be
taken in lieu of testing at the USCG; meaning that no USCG exams are
required after successful completion of the course.

Within the pages of this website you will information on what these licenses
are, how to qualify for them, and how to complete the USCG forms to
streamline your Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) application process. The
following is a description of the different MMC offered to get you started.

Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel License
    The Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel license, also known as the
    OUPV or 6-pack license, is the most common captain's license held by
    fishing guides, tour guides and other small passenger vessel operators.

    The OUPV license will allow you to operate a vessel of less than 100
    gross tons (GRT) carrying six or fewer passengers for hire on all inland
    waters  and may include all near coastal ocean waters within 100 miles
    from shore depending on the qualifying experience of the applicant.

Master License
    The Master's license is the most common license held by charter boat
    captains, crew boat captains, supply boat captains and other commercial
    vessel operators that require a license to operate inspected vessels.

    The Master 100 ton license is considered an entry level license because it
    does not require sea service experience while holding a license. This
    license will be issued as Master 25 ton, Master 50 ton, or Master 100 ton
    depending on the size of vessels the applicants qualifying experience is
    on.

    The Master 200 ton license requires the applicant to have qualifying
    experience while holding a license and is issued as Master 150 or Master
    200 tons depending on the size of vessels the applicants qualifying
    experience is on.

    The holder of a license as Master may operate any vessel requiring an
    OUPV license and may also operate any inspected vessel within the
    tonnage limitations on the license on all inland waters and all near coastal
    ocean waters depending on the route issued on the license.

Able Seaman Rating
    Able Seaman is a deck rating required for mariners working on deck of
    most sea going commercial vessel greater than 100 tons. Prior to the
    regulation changes of 2009 this rating was known as a "z-card" or "MMD".

Apprentice Mate (Steersman) of Towing Vessels
    The Apprentice Mate (steersman) license represents one of three routes
    to the Mate of Towing license and from there to the Master of Towing
    license held by tugboat Captains.

Master of Fishing Industry Vessels
    The Master of Fishing Vessel license is required for all Captains that
    operate fishing industry vessels greater than 200 GRT. Fishing industry
    vessels include catcher boats, processors, packers and any other
    commercial vessels engaged in catching, processing or transporting fish
    or fishery products.

    If you have questions regarding the information
    on this website please feel free to contact me. I
    am always happy to help out. I post Frequently
    Asked Questions on the USMariner.info site.
Click here ask a question or send a message to Dennis
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