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Capt Roy's Marine Training
United States Coast Guard Approved Captains License Courses
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Marine Safety Training
P.O. Box 1038
Seabrook, Tx 77586
281-461-6186 |
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Coast Guard License Requirements
Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessel (OUPV)
The USCG "Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels" License allows the holder to Captain uninspected vessels. Most vessels are in the uninspected vessel category due to the materials and method of construction. This license is commonly referred to as the "Six Pack" license. It is not however, a license to carry six people, but a license to operate an uninspected passenger vessel. The Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 46, restricts uninspected passenger vessels to six paying passengers. This license is good on vessels up to 100 gross tons.
This is the common type of license a Guide would need that never intends to carry more than 6 paying passengers.
Here are the basic requirements for an Inland OUPV License:
360 days underway experience
90 of the 360 days in the last 3 years
Three letters of recommendation
Completion of a USCG approved course like the Captain Roy's Coast Guard Approved 55 Hour OUPV course OR Completion of the USCG exams
The requirements listed above are for an Inland OUPV License wich allows you to operate on Inland waters. For a Near Coastal OUPV you will need to have operated on Near Coastal waters for at least 90 of the required 360 days.
Masters License
USCG approved 80 hour Master to 100 Gross Tons (GT) License Course
The USCG Masters License allows the holder to operate inspected vessels as well as uninspected vessels. Any vessel that is certified (inspected) by the USCG to carry more than 6 paying passengers plus crew must have a Captain who holds a Masters license. Offshore fishing boats, ferry boats, harbor tours boats, and dinner cruise boats are examples of inspected vessels.
What are the USCG requirements for the Master License?
There are 2 different Masters Licenses a mariner may qualify for such as the Master Inland or Master Near Coastal. Both the amount of sea service time and the size vessels you have experience on will influence the license you are eligible for. Masters licenses are tonnage rated at 25 GT (gross tons), 50 GT, or 100 GT. The tonnage you are awarded is determined by the size vessels you've gained experience on.
Master Inland: 360 days underway experience; 90 of those 360 days in the last 3 years.
Master Inland/OUPV Near Coastal: 360 days underway experience; 90 of those 360 days in the last 3 years; 90 of those 360 days outside the boundary lines.
Master Near Coastal: 720 days underway experience; 90 of those 360 days in the last 3 years; 360 of those 720 days outside the boundary lines.
Here are the basic requirements for a Masters License:
Comleted license application
Experience requirements as listed above
Birth Certificate or Passport
TWIC
Three letters of recommendation
Completion of a USCG approved course like the Captain Roy's Coast Guard Approved Masters course OR Completion of the USCG exams
Documenting Sea Time
The number one question that I receive is how to document your sea time. To document your time you use a U.S. Coast Guard Small Vessel Sea Service Form. You can download one by clicking on the following link.
After you download the form and you will see that filling it out is very easy. You will need one form for each vessel you are going to claim your experience on. If the time you are claiming was your own vessel, you will need proof of ownership. If you are going to claim time on another persons vessel that you spent time on, you will need them to sign the form certifying your experience. It is recommended that you also provide proof of ownership when having another person certifying your time.
If you are attending one of Captain Roy's Coast Guard Approved Courses, we spend two hours going over the application process and check over your application package before you carry them to the local Coast Guard REC. We want it to be right the first time!
For further information,
please write to:
Capt Roy's Email
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Captain Roy's Marine Training, P.O. Box 1038, Seabrook, Tx 77586
281-461-6186