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Able Seaman / Ordinary Seaman
The Merchant Mariners Document, or MMD, is an unlicensed rating. With a few exceptions, an
MMD, is required to work on all ocean going commercial vessels of greater than 100 gross tons.
Merchant Mariners Documents may be endorsed with one of the following ratings.
Ordinary Seaman (OS)
The Ordinary Seaman Document, or OS card is an entry level rating that requires no previous
sea service experience, exams, or training. Advancement from a position as Ordinary Seaman
can be to either the deck or engineering departments.
To qualify as an Ordinary Seaman you must present the following documents to a USCG
Regional Exam Center, where they will fingerprint you for the FBI criminal background check and
have you swear the Merchant Marine oath, and pay the issuance fee of $45.
Able Seaman (AB)
The Able Seaman Document, or AB card, is a rating for the deck department that requires sea
service experience, exams, and training. After the initial examinations and training advancement
is based on sea service experience alone, no additional exams are required.
An AB card will be issued with the following Able Seaman ratings, depending on your sea service
experience.
To qualify as an Able Seaman you must present the following documents to a USCG Regional
Exam Center, where they will fingerprint you for the FBI criminal background check and have you
swear the Merchant Marine oath, and pay a $100 evaluation fee and a issuance fee of $45.
In addition the AB the candidate must either satisfy the examination requirements for Able
Seaman or complete an approved training course AND complete an approved Basic Safety
Training (BST) course AND complete an approved Lifeboat Training Course.
Related Course
Able Seaman (any rating)
Any applicant who has successfully completed your 48-hour Able Seaman course and presents
your Certificate of Training at a Regional Exam Center WITHIN ONE YEAR of the completion of
training, will satisfy the written examination requirements of 46 CFR 12.05-9 for the “Deck &
Navigation General / Deck Safety” and “Deck General & Safety / Rules of the Road” exam
modules for any Able Seaman endorsement; AND the practical (knot-tying) examination
requirements of 46 CFR 12.05-9 for any Able Seaman endorsement.
The Merchant Mariners Document, or MMD, is an unlicensed rating. With a few exceptions, an
MMD, is required to work on all ocean going commercial vessels of greater than 100 gross tons.
Merchant Mariners Documents may be endorsed with one of the following ratings.
Ordinary Seaman (OS)
The Ordinary Seaman Document, or OS card is an entry level rating that requires no previous
sea service experience, exams, or training. Advancement from a position as Ordinary Seaman
can be to either the deck or engineering departments.
To qualify as an Ordinary Seaman you must present the following documents to a USCG
Regional Exam Center, where they will fingerprint you for the FBI criminal background check and
have you swear the Merchant Marine oath, and pay the issuance fee of $45.
- Completed Application for Officer, Staff Officer, or Officer, or Merchant Mariners Document
- Completed Certification of Fitness for Entry Level Ratings
- Completed USCG/DOT Drug Test
- Proof of Citizenship
- Social Security Card
Able Seaman (AB)
The Able Seaman Document, or AB card, is a rating for the deck department that requires sea
service experience, exams, and training. After the initial examinations and training advancement
is based on sea service experience alone, no additional exams are required.
An AB card will be issued with the following Able Seaman ratings, depending on your sea service
experience.
- Able Seaman Unlimited: 1080 days experience on ocean waters on vessels over 100 tons
- Able Seaman Limited: 540 days experience on ocean waters on vessels over 100 tons
- Able Seaman Special: 360 days experience on deck of vessels on any waters
- Able Seaman Fishing: 180 days experience on deck of vessels on any waters
- Able Seaman Offshore Supply Vessels (OSV): 180 days experience on deck of vessels on
any waters
To qualify as an Able Seaman you must present the following documents to a USCG Regional
Exam Center, where they will fingerprint you for the FBI criminal background check and have you
swear the Merchant Marine oath, and pay a $100 evaluation fee and a issuance fee of $45.
- Completed Application for Officer, Staff Officer, or Officer, or Merchant Mariners Document
- Completed Merchant Mariner Physical Examination Report
- Approved DOT Drug Test
- Proof of Citizenship
- Social Security Card
- Sea Service Letter or completed Small Vessel Sea Service form
In addition the AB the candidate must either satisfy the examination requirements for Able
Seaman or complete an approved training course AND complete an approved Basic Safety
Training (BST) course AND complete an approved Lifeboat Training Course.
Related Course
Able Seaman (any rating)
Any applicant who has successfully completed your 48-hour Able Seaman course and presents
your Certificate of Training at a Regional Exam Center WITHIN ONE YEAR of the completion of
training, will satisfy the written examination requirements of 46 CFR 12.05-9 for the “Deck &
Navigation General / Deck Safety” and “Deck General & Safety / Rules of the Road” exam
modules for any Able Seaman endorsement; AND the practical (knot-tying) examination
requirements of 46 CFR 12.05-9 for any Able Seaman endorsement.
Related Forms
Click on the name to view or
download.
Related Courses
Information on this course can
be viewed Courses page.
Note
If you have the sea service
experience to qualify for an Able
Seaman card you also have the
qualifying experience for a
Merchant Marine License.
Click on the name to view or
download.
Related Courses
Information on this course can
be viewed Courses page.
- 48-hour Able Seaman
(any rating)
Note
If you have the sea service
experience to qualify for an Able
Seaman card you also have the
qualifying experience for a
Merchant Marine License.