Sea time

[DPott]

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone could help me with a question that I have regarding sea time for cruise ship officers.

If you sail as say a 4th Mate on a cruise ship and you are not taking single handed bridge watches, but doubled up does your seatime count in full towards your Chief Mates or is it calculated at a reduced rate?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Regards to all.

[Randomist]

As far as I know, sea time for chief mates is calculated as time sailing in the capacity of Officer of the Watch, even if that's a JOOW. I've never known of any additional time to be collected if you are sailing as the junior of two watch keeping officers, it's the same 18 months for most people. I've known plenty of people going for their chiefs after sailing this time as a OOW on a dual watch keeping ship.

[Steve]

http://www.dft.gov.uk/mca/mcga07-home/workingatsea/mcga-trainingandcert/mcga-merchantnavy/mcga-merchantnavy-deck/sea-service-for-merchant-coc.htm

Watchkeeping Service is Actual Sea Service spent as a Watchkeeping Officer in full charge of navigational watch (or supervised watchkeeping if applying for Officer of the Watch) for no less than eight hours out of every 24 hours whilst the vessel is engaged on a voyage.

[Steve]

I've never known of any additional time to be collected if you are sailing as the junior of two watch keeping officers, it's the same 18 months for most people. I've known plenty of people going for their chiefs after sailing this time as a OOW on a dual watch keeping ship.

That's because their watchkeeping testimonials falsely describe them as the senior of two watchkeepers, or at least fail to mention that they are the junior of two watchkeepers. I get the impression that doing so is standard practice for those sailing in a junior watchkeeping capacity in the cruise industry, with the obvious complicity of their Masters who endorse the testimonials.

[GuinnessMan]

That's because their watchkeeping testimonials falsely describe them as the senior of two watchkeepers, or at least fail to mention that they are the junior of two watchkeepers. I get the impression that doing so is standard practice for those sailing in a junior watchkeeping capacity in the cruise industry, with the obvious complicity of their Masters who endorse the testimonials.

So how does that work in the RFA then? You lot seem to fill a bridge with watchkeepers...

[alistairuk]

Hi everyone,
I was wondering if anyone could help me with a question that I have regarding sea time for cruise ship officers.

If you sail as say a 4th Mate on a cruise ship and you are not taking single handed bridge watches, but doubled up does your seatime count in full towards your Chief Mates or is it calculated at a reduced rate?

Any help would be much appreciated.

Regards to all.

Hi DPott, No, sailing as a junior watch keeper on a dual watch ship does not affect your ability to sit your chief mates exam after acquiring 18 month sea time.

[Steve]

So how does that work in the RFA then? You lot seem to fill a bridge with watchkeepers...

OOW + 1 or 2 ABs is "filled" in GM land?

[GuinnessMan]

OOW + 1 or 2 ABs is "filled" in GM land?

I have reliable sources (Ex RN and RFA) who have commented that the RN and RFA bridge (and surface ships in general) are overmanned with more watch-officers than are strictly needed.

[Steve]

I have reliable sources (Ex RN and RFA) who have commented that the RN and RFA bridge (and surface ships in general) are overmanned with more watch-officers than are strictly needed.

No, either you or your sources have misunderstood. The basic bridge watch on an RFA is made up as I described. Enhanced bridge manning is employed as appropriate for the evolution at hand. For example, more officers on the bridge for entering harbour, as is fairly normal for merchant vessels.

The only occasions when the OOW routinely hands charge of the ship over to another officer during his watch are 1) entering harbour (fairly normal for merchant ships AIUI) and 2) when making a RAS approach and keeping station during replenishment (only an occasional evolution).

Very, very different to routinely serving as the junior of two watchkeeping officers.

I can't speak for how the RN do it, but that is irrelevant.


There are a couple of ships in the RFA where the engineers double up on watch, but the reasons are specific to that class, and it is only the engineers.

[utpdm]

Can i squeeze a question in here.

I recently did 5 weeks on a 390GT ship as 2/O, does this count toward my seatime for chief mates ?. I seem to remember that a ship has to be over a certain tonnage for it to count, but i could be wrong.

Cheers

[Steve]

I recently did 5 weeks on a 390GT ship as 2/O, does this count toward my seatime for chief mates ?. I seem to remember that a ship has to be over a certain tonnage for it to count, but i could be wrong.

Should count, but I'd be interested in the MCA's answer, so you might like to e-mail them an inquiry.

MGN 92

Sea service should normally be performed on merchant ships of at least 24 metres in length or not less than 80gt proceeding to sea.