Hoofer Winter EducationHoofer Winter Education

Becoming a Coast Guard Becoming a Coast Guard CaptainCaptain

Capt Tom KershnerCapt Tom KershnerCapt Randy MullisCapt Randy Mullis

Why do I need a USCG Why do I need a USCG license?license?• Any boating activities for hire such as:Any boating activities for hire such as:

– Teach ASA courses on Great Lakes or OceanTeach ASA courses on Great Lakes or Ocean– Charter / guide fishing on Great Lakes, Lake Charter / guide fishing on Great Lakes, Lake

Winnebago, Mississippi RiverWinnebago, Mississippi River– SCUBA dive master on Great Lakes or OceanSCUBA dive master on Great Lakes or Ocean– Delivery captainDelivery captain– Tour Operator like whale watching, booze Tour Operator like whale watching, booze

cruise, sunset sail cruisecruise, sunset sail cruise– So people will call you CaptainSo people will call you Captain

ChecklistChecklist• Minimum 18 years oldMinimum 18 years old• Transportation Workers Identification Credential TWIC Transportation Workers Identification Credential TWIC

(photocopy of card or application receipt)(photocopy of card or application receipt)• Application Fee (payment receipt)Application Fee (payment receipt)• CG Form 719 B Application (completed and oath taken)CG Form 719 B Application (completed and oath taken)• 3 Character References3 Character References• CG Form 719K Physical (signed by Dr, within 12 months of CG Form 719K Physical (signed by Dr, within 12 months of

application date)application date)• Drug TestDrug Test• CG Form 719S Sea ServiceCG Form 719S Sea Service• Training Course Certificates (or USCG Exams)Training Course Certificates (or USCG Exams)• CPR / First AidCPR / First Aid• Other (Alien registration if not a US Citizen, conviction Other (Alien registration if not a US Citizen, conviction

disclosure)disclosure)

CostsCosts

• TWICTWIC $ 127.75$ 127.75• Application feeApplication fee $ 145.00$ 145.00• CourseCourse $ 695.00 (Explorers Guide)$ 695.00 (Explorers Guide)• Application Drug testApplication Drug test $ 65.50$ 65.50• Random GroupRandom Group $ 60.00$ 60.00• Passport photoPassport photo $ 10.00$ 10.00• Medical examMedical exam $ ??$ ??• CPR / First AidCPR / First Aid $ 140.00 (Red Cross)$ 140.00 (Red Cross)• TravelTravel $ ??$ ??• TOTALTOTAL $1,243.25 +$1,243.25 +

TWICTWIC

• Transportation Workers Identification Transportation Workers Identification CredentialCredential

• Pre-enroll (answer questions for security check)Pre-enroll (answer questions for security check)• Schedule appointmentSchedule appointment• At Appointment time, visit enrollment center At Appointment time, visit enrollment center

(Milwaukee), get finger printed, photo taken, (Milwaukee), get finger printed, photo taken, pay feepay fee

• Documents required (if US Citizen then DL or Documents required (if US Citizen then DL or passport)passport)

• Return to enrollment center to pick up cardReturn to enrollment center to pick up card

TWICTWIC

• A Transportation Worker A Transportation Worker Identification Credential or Identification Credential or TWIC is a tamper-resistant, TWIC is a tamper-resistant, common identification common identification credential, issued by the credential, issued by the Transportation Security Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Administration (TSA), containing a biometric containing a biometric (fingerprint template) of (fingerprint template) of the card holder. The the card holder. The National Maritime Center National Maritime Center uses TSA as their primary uses TSA as their primary source for security checks source for security checks when conducting when conducting background investigations. background investigations.

TWIC ReceiptTWIC Receipt

CG Form 719B - ApplicationCG Form 719B - Application

• Page 1: Page 1: – Personal dataPersonal data– Type of Transaction (Original License)Type of Transaction (Original License)– Grade of License (OUPV or Master)Grade of License (OUPV or Master)

Application - Page 2 - Application - Page 2 - ConvictionsConvictions

Application - Page 3 - OathApplication - Page 3 - Oath

Application Fee ReceiptApplication Fee Receipt

Character References – Character References – Need 3Need 3• DateDate

Commanding Officer (R.E.C.)Commanding Officer (R.E.C.)U.S.C.G. Marine Safety OfficerU.S.C.G. Marine Safety OfficerU.S. Custom HouseU.S. Custom House

Dear Sir,Dear Sir,I am a U.S.C.G. Licensed Master and am writing this letter on I am a U.S.C.G. Licensed Master and am writing this letter on behalf of _____________. I have known ______________ for ____ years and behalf of _____________. I have known ______________ for ____ years and find him/her to be a reliable person with strong leadership skills, find him/her to be a reliable person with strong leadership skills, capable of operating vessels and serving as Captain.capable of operating vessels and serving as Captain.It is my pleasure to recommend ________________ to the Coast Guard It is my pleasure to recommend ________________ to the Coast Guard for his/her OUPV license.for his/her OUPV license.

Sincerely,Sincerely,sign_________________ license #________________sign_________________ license #________________print_________________print_________________address_______________address___________________________________________________________phone number_______________phone number_______________

CG Form 719K – Medical CG Form 719K – Medical Fitness for DutyFitness for Duty• My doctor had no knowledge of the form but did a pretty My doctor had no knowledge of the form but did a pretty

good job of completing itgood job of completing it• I warned him in advance and sent the instructions before I warned him in advance and sent the instructions before

the examthe exam• There was one mistake that caused a 1 month delayThere was one mistake that caused a 1 month delay• My color vision was not performed according to one of the My color vision was not performed according to one of the

approved methods (He checked the ‘Other’ checkbox)approved methods (He checked the ‘Other’ checkbox)• It took a week to make contact with the reviewer to learn of It took a week to make contact with the reviewer to learn of

the error, then I had to reschedule the test, correct the the error, then I had to reschedule the test, correct the form, and resubmit the applicationform, and resubmit the application

• Several information web sites cite mistakes in the medical Several information web sites cite mistakes in the medical exam as the number one reason for delay in the approval exam as the number one reason for delay in the approval process.process.

CG 719K - Common Errors CG 719K - Common Errors • ALL MEDICAL EXAMS, TESTS, AND DEMONSTRATIONS OF PHYSICAL ABILITY

must be performed, witnessed or reviewed by a physician, physician assistant, or nurse practitioner licensed in the United States or one of the U.S. territories.

• Make sure that all blocks are filled in on examination forms. Forms with missing information will incur delays

• No response to medication section (Section III) • YES or NO response not provided for each condition listed on page 5

(Section IV) • Incomplete details (date of diagnosis/resolution) of 88 conditions identified

(Section IV) • Missing uncorrected vision (Section V) • Uncorrected vision tested with corrective lenses (Section V) • Missing field of vision (Section V) • Inappropriate color vision testing method, number of errors omitted or

determination not indicated (Section V) • Hearing not marked as normal or impaired (Section VI) • Missing pulse rate/rhythm (Section VII) • Provider failed to sign/date the form and provide his/her license number

(Section IX)

CG Form 719K – Sections VCG Form 719K – Sections V

CG Form 719K – Sections VICG Form 719K – Sections VI

CG Form 719K – Sections CG Form 719K – Sections VIIIVIII

CG Form 719K – Sections CG Form 719K – Sections VIIIVIII

• Drug TestDrug Test

CG Form 719S - Sea ServiceCG Form 719S - Sea Service

• Qualifying Sea Service - Any day that you were on a vessel of any type or size, had a position of responsibility, and were away from the dock for more than four hours counts as one calendar day of sea service experience.

• Did you serve on a ship in the military? You can request sea service from national archives

• If you own your own boat you sign off on the form for yourself• Recency – 90 days in the past 3 years on vessels • OUPV

– Near Coastal – 360 days of service, OF WHICH • 90 days of service on Ocean or Near Coastal waters.

– Great Lakes - 360 days of service, OF WHICH: • 90 days of service on Great Lakes.

– Inland – 360 days of service. • MASTER 50 – 100 Ton

– Near Coastal – 720 days of service on Ocean or Near Coastal waters, OF WHICH: • Service on Great Lakes & Inland waters MAY substitute for up to 360 days of the required service.

– Great Lakes - 360 total days of service, OF WHICH: • 90 days of service on Great Lakes.

– Inland - 360 days of service.

• Sea Service Sea Service - Inland- Inland

• Sea Service Sea Service - Offshore- Offshore

OUPV vs Master?

• Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV, aka 6-pack)– Limited to 6 passengers for hire

• Master– Operator for the use of inspected vessels which may carry in excess of

6 passengers for hire and may have multiple crew members. • Great Lakes & Inland license – Master & OUPV have the same Sea

Service requirements• Master course covers additional information (for deck exam, $295

more with Explorers Guide)• Master license has 1 additional written exam (deck exam)• Master license tonnage requirementsMaster license tonnage requirements

– 200 GRT – 180 days of service on vessels of 151 GRT or above, OR • 360 days of service on vessels over 101 GRT

– 150 GRT – 180 days of service on vessels of 101 GRT or above, OR • 360 days of service on vessels at 67 to 101 GRT

– 100 GRT – 180 days of service on vessels of 51 GRT or above, OR • 360 days of service on vessels over 34 GRT

– 50 GRT – 1 day of service on vessels over 5 GRT

Course RequirementsCourse Requirements

• You have the option to take the USCG You have the option to take the USCG administered exam at a regional center administered exam at a regional center (Toledo, St. Louis) or an approved course (Toledo, St. Louis) or an approved course with in-house exams.with in-house exams.

• The approved courses include 56 hours of The approved courses include 56 hours of instruction and in-house exams (Master is instruction and in-house exams (Master is an additional 24 hours).an additional 24 hours).

• Course exam questions are covered in the Course exam questions are covered in the coursecourse

• USCG exam questions are from a database USCG exam questions are from a database of 33,000 possible questionsof 33,000 possible questions

EndorsementsEndorsements

• Assistance Towing Assistance Towing – Allows you to engage in assisting Allows you to engage in assisting

vessels for a feevessels for a fee

• Auxiliary SailAuxiliary Sail– Is required to operate an inspected sail Is required to operate an inspected sail

or auxiliary sail vesselor auxiliary sail vessel– Master license is requiredMaster license is required

Submit by emailSubmit by email

• The application is best submitted by emailThe application is best submitted by email• Combine all forms into 1 PDF and Combine all forms into 1 PDF and

compresscompress• File size should be less than 10 MBFile size should be less than 10 MB• Subject line must be: Last Name, First Subject line must be: Last Name, First

Name, Middle Initial, Mariner NumberName, Middle Initial, Mariner Number• http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/

announcements/announcements/industry_notice_e_submission.pdfindustry_notice_e_submission.pdf

On-line Application StatusOn-line Application Status

ResourcesResources

• National Maritime Center (NMC) National Maritime Center (NMC) http://www.uscg.mil/nmchttp://www.uscg.mil/nmc

• Article on USCG Approved Courses Article on USCG Approved Courses http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/proceedings/pdfs/105%http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/proceedings/pdfs/105%20COURSES.pdf20COURSES.pdf

• SeaSources.net SeaSources.net http://www.seasources.nethttp://www.seasources.net• Explorers Guide Explorers Guide http://www.explorersguidellc.comhttp://www.explorersguidellc.com