- Master / Mate / Apprentice Mate
of Towing Vessels Requirements
A Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) officer
endorsement as Master or Mate of Towing Vessels is
required to be the first of second captain on an
uninspected towing vessel. An uninspected towing
vessel is any towing vessel operating exclusively on
Inland waters or any towing vessel of less than 200
GRT operating on ocean waters.
Master of Towing Vessels authorizes the authority to
be the first captain on an uninspected towing vessel
within the limitations of the endorsement.
- To qualify for Master of Towing the applicant must
have four years total qualifying experience; 12
months of the this experience must have been as
Mate of Towing vessels while holding a license as
Mate of Towing; 90 days of the qualifying
experience must have been on the route
requested with a completed TOAR for that route. - If you hold an endorsement as Master of
Inspected vessels greater than 200 GRT
(meaning 500 GRT or more) and have 30 days of
observation and training on a route and a TOAR
for that route, you can sail as Master of any
towing vessel on that route within the limitations
of the endorsement.
Mate of Towing Vessels authorizes the authority to
be the second captain on any uninspected towing
vessel within the limitations of the endorsement. To
qualify for Mate of Towing the applicant must meet one
of the following requirements:
- Have 30 months of qualifying experience; at least
12 months of this qualifying experience must
have been on towing vessels while holding a
license as Apprentice Mate (steersman) in the
position of apprentice mate; at least 90 days of
the qualifying experience must have been on the
route requested with a completed TOAR for that
route. - Hold an MMC endorsement as Master 200 tons or
less and have three years of qualifying experience
operating vessels under the authority of
endorsement, 30 days of observation and training
on the route requested and a completed TOAR
for that route. - If you hold an endorsement as Mate of Inspected
vessels greater than 200 GRT (meaning 500
GRT or more) and have 30 days of observation
and training on a route and a completed TOAR for
that route, you can sail as Mate of any towing
vessel on that route within the limitations of the
endorsement.
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| Call (503) 841-6066 for more information or to schedule a class. (c) Dennis A. Degner 2006-2011 |
Apprentice Mate (steersman) does not authorize the
authority to be in charge of any towing vessel, but is a
training position that allows advancement to Mate of
Towing after gaining one year of qualifying experience
in the position of Apprentice Mate on a towing vessel.
Advancement from Apprentice Mate (steersman) to
Mate of Towing and from Mate to Master of Towing is
accomplished through sea service experience alone; no
additional exams are required.
Towing Officers Assessment Record (TOAR)
Four TOARs exist; Limited, Western Rivers, Inland /
Great Lakes, and Near Coastal / Oceans. Completion of
a TOAR requires at least 30 days of observation and
training on the respective route under the supervision
of a Designated Examiner (DE).
A Radar Observer Endorsement is required for the
Master or Mate of Towing Vessels greater than 26 feet.
Courses
Additional courses that may be of interest
authority to be in charge of any towing vessel, but is a
training position that allows advancement to Mate of
Towing after gaining one year of qualifying experience
in the position of Apprentice Mate on a towing vessel.
- Apprentice Mate (steersman) requires 18 months
of qualifying experience; at least 12 months of
the qualifying experience must have been working
on the deck of towing vessels and 90 days of the
qualifying experience must have been on the
route requested.
Advancement from Apprentice Mate (steersman) to
Mate of Towing and from Mate to Master of Towing is
accomplished through sea service experience alone; no
additional exams are required.
Towing Officers Assessment Record (TOAR)
Four TOARs exist; Limited, Western Rivers, Inland /
Great Lakes, and Near Coastal / Oceans. Completion of
a TOAR requires at least 30 days of observation and
training on the respective route under the supervision
of a Designated Examiner (DE).
- Near Coastal / Oceans TOAR authorizes the
authority for a Near Coastal or All Oceans route
and includes all inland waters except for the
Western Rivers (Mississippi and its tributaries). - Inland / Great Lakes TOAR authorizes the
authority for a Great Lakes and inland route
which includes the waters of the Great Lakes and
all the inland waters of the US except for the
Western Rivers. - Western Rivers TOAR authorizes the authority for
a Western River route only. - Limited TOAR authorizes the authority to operate
a specific towing vessel engaged in a specific
operation for a specific company or organization.
A Radar Observer Endorsement is required for the
Master or Mate of Towing Vessels greater than 26 feet.
Courses
Additional courses that may be of interest