Columbia Pacific Maritime
Columbia Pacific Maritime Home Page

Columbia Pacific Maritime is a USCG approved Merchant Marine Deck License training school
located in Portland, Oregon that focuses on the needs of operators of uninspected vessels and
inspected vessels of 200 gross tons and less. Complete USCG approved training programs are
provided for the following USCG Captain's Licenses:

  • Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels with either a limited scope waters, inland,
    or near coastal route; this license is commonly called an OUPV or 6 pack license.
  • Master 100 tons with either a limited scope waters, inland, or near coastal route; this
    includes Master 25 tons and Master 50 tons.
  • Master 200 tons with either an inland, near coastal, or ocean route; this includes Master
    150 tons, Mate 150 tons, and Mate 200 tons.
  • Apprentice Mate (Steersman) of Towing Vessels with either an inland, near coastal, or
    ocean route; advancement to Mate (Pilot) and Master of Towing Vessels is based on
    completion of the TOAR (Towing Officers Assessment Record) and sea service alone, no
    additional USCG exams are required.
  • Master of Uninspected Fishing Vessels with either a near coastal or oceans route; this
    includes Mate of Uninspected Fishing Vessels.

Additional USCG approved courses are provided for:

  • Radar Observer Unlimited; original endorsement or renewal.
  • Able Seaman; including ratings for OSV (Offshore Supply Vessel), Fishing, Sail, Special,
    Limited, and Unlimited.
  • License Endorsements for Assistance Towing and Auxiliary Sail.

All courses offered are USCG approved to be taken in lieu of testing, meaning that the course
meets the examination requirements and no additional testing is required. For a complete list of
USCG approved course view the
"Courses" page. All courses are offered every two weeks on a
rotating schedule.

The USCG Licensed Captain and Mate

US Coast Guard (USCG) Licensed Captains operate commercial vessels engaged in the
marine transportation industry.

The Captain is responsible for the safe operation of the vessel and the safety of the
crew and all passengers.

The Mate reports directly to the Captain and is responsible for the safe navigation of the
ship and serves as officer in charge of the navigational watch.

The Able Seaman is a member of the deck department that assists the Captain or Mate
with the safe operation of the vessel.

There are several different levels of captain's licenses. Columbia Pacific Maritime provide
USCG approved captains courses with a focus in uninspected vessel operations and
inspected vessel operations of not more than 200 tons.

  • Guide boat Captain - USCG Licensed guide boat captains operate power-driven
    vessels carrying six or fewer passengers for hire on inland waterways as fishing
    guides or tour guides and commonly hold US Coast Guard (USCG) licenses as
    Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV).
  • Charter boat Captain - USCG Licensed charter boat captains operate power-
    driven vessels on near coastal ocean waters which are generally larger than guide-
    boats and may carry more than six passengers for hire. These captains commonly
    hold USCG Captains licenses as Master 25 tons, Master 50 tons, or Master 100
    tons.
  • Crew boat and Supply boat Captain - USCG Licensed crew boat and supply
    boat captains operate power-driven vessels involved in the transportation of crew,
    equipment, and supplies in the service of offshore oil platforms or other offshore
    installations. The minimum license requirement for most crew-boat captains is a
    USCG license as Master 100 tons and some may hold licenses as Master 200 ton
    or greater.
  • Tugboat Captain - USCG Licensed tugboat captains operate vessels engaged in
    the transportation of cargo or that provide ship assist work in harbors. Most
    tugboat captains hold a USCG license as Master 200 ton or greater and this
    license must be endorsed as "Master of Towing." Tugboats generally employ Mates
    that hold USCG licenses as Mate 200 tons endorsed as "Mate of Towing."
  • Fishing Vessel Captain - USCG Licensed fishing vessel captains operate uninspected
    commercial fishing vessels of 5000 gross tons and less around the world. USCG licensed
    captains are not required to operate commercial fishing vessels of less than 200 gross tons.
Columbia Pacific Maritime Home Page
USCG Approved Course List
Course Schedule
Maritime training and study materials available for purchase.
Contact Columbia Pacific Maritime contact information and driving directions
USCG License Application Information
Information and Courses for Oregon Fishing Guides
Information and courses for an OUPV license
Information and courses for Master 100 ton
Information and courses for Mate 200 ton and Master 200 ton
Information and courses for Master and Mate of Uninspected Towing Vessels
Information and courses for Master and Mate of Uninspected Commercial Fishing Vessel Licenses
Information and courses for a Merchant Marine Document as ordinary seaman or able body seaman
Information and courses for assistance towing and auxiliary sail endorsements
Information and courses for radar observer endorsements
Visual Communications (Flashing Light) course
Information and courses for ocean routes
Columbia Pacific Online Blog; a fluid website presenting news and information of interest to mariners of the Pacific NW
Maritime employment news with a focus on uninspected vessels and inspected vessels of 200 tons and less
Resources for mariners in and around the Portland, Oregon area, included lodging information
Pictures and websites from my students
Columbia Pacific Online Newsletter
Columbia Pacific Maritime main classroom
Columbia Pacific Maritime radar observer classroom
Dennis Degner, USCG approved instructor and Licensed Master


Advantage Network
Participant

Receive a $25 discount
when purchasing any USCG
approved training course
by presenting your
unexpired Sea Tow
membership card.

Columbia Pacific Maritime is a USCG approved training school for a maximum
of six students. No class will ever be canceled due to low enrollment because
there is no minimum class size. I am happy to conduct a class for a single
student seven days a week.

My success rate is nearly 100% and I have a 98% success rate getting
students through the USCG approved courses within the advertised course
schedule.

This success rate is possible because the courses are well organized and
presented in a small group environment that encourages open discussion and
student participation.

Radar Observer Classroom

Adjacent to the main classroom is the radar observer classroom. Maintaining
the small classroom environment, the radar observer classroom is USCG
approved for a maximum of two students.


  • Radar Observer Recertification is a 1-day course approved for the
    renewal of any radar observer endorsement.
  • Radar Observer (Unlimited) is a five day course approved for an
    original unlimited radar observer endorsement.
Link to Seatow International
Frequently Asked Questions
The following window provides a link to Frequently Asked Questions published on the Columbia Pacific Online Blog website. This
website was established in October 2006 and contains a considerable amount of archived material regarding USCG Merchant Marine
Licensing. This website can be viewed directly at
ColumbiaPacificOnline.com/blog.

Your question regarding Merchant Marine Licensing may be submitted using the following form. I will attempt to answer them in the FAQ
forum within 48 hours.
Frequently Asked Question Submission Form
Email (required)

Subject

Question