Master / Mate Fishing Industry Vessels

    Commercial fishing industry vessels (FV) greater than 200 tons are
    required to be manned by mariners holding Merchant Marine Credentials
    with the appropriate endorsements. This includes domestic officers
    endorsements (licenses) as Master or Mate from 500 to 5,000 tons and
    domestic ratings for Ordinary Seaman and Able Seaman.

    Fishing industry vessels include:
  • Catcher boats
  • Fish processing vessel
  • Tenders
  • Fish packers

Sea Service Experience

    The sea service experience for Merchant Marine Credentials issued for
    fishing industry vessels is not required to have been gained on-board
    fishing vessels.

    A license as Master of Fishing Industry Vessels authorizes the authority
    to be in charge of any fishing industry vessel within the tonnage
    limitations of the license.
    Master of Fishing Vessel license requires a minimum of four years
    sea service experience, including one year of experience as master
    or equivalent position.

    A license as Mate of Fishing Industry Vessels authorizes the authority to
    be in charge of a navigational watch on any fishing industry vessel within
    the tonnage limitations of the license.
    Mate of Fishing Vessel license requires a minimum of three years
    sea service experience.

    Able Seaman Fishing requires a minimum of 180 days of sea
    service experience. The rating of Ordinary Seaman does not require
    any sea service experience.

Tonnage Limitations

    Licenses as Master or Mate of Fishing Industry Vessels are issued with
    tonnage limitations of from not more than 500 tons to not more than
    5,000 tons depending on the qualifying experience. The following provides
    a basic guide, for more specific information reference 46 CFR 10.462 or
    send an email request to Dennis@ColumbiaPacificMaritime.com

  • A tonnage limitation of "not more than 500 tons" requires some
    experience on vessels over 50 tons.
  • A tonnage limitation of "not more than 1600 tons" requires some
    experience on vessels over 100 tons.
  • Tonnage limitations over 1600 tons are issued in 1,000 ton
    increments rounding up to a maximum of 5,000 tons based on the
    following formula:
    Either the maximum tonnage that 25% of the qualifying
    experience was on OR 150% of the maximum tonnage that
    50% of the qualifying experience was on.

Additional Training Requirements

    To qualify for Master or Mate of Fishing Industry Vessels the applicant
    must also complete the following additional training courses, if not
    previously completed and hold the following ratings or endorsements:
  1. Able Seaman with a rating of Fishing or higher
  2. Radar Observer Unlimited endorsement
  3. Medical Care Provider training course
  4. Bridge Resource Management training course

Columbia Pacific Maritime courses

Master 100 tons
    Any applicant who has successfully completed your 80-hour Master 100
    Tons course and presents your Certificate of Training at a Regional Exam
    Center WITHIN ONE YEAR of the completion of training, will satisfy the
    examination requirements of 46 CFR 10.205(i) for original issuance, 46
    CFR 10. 209(c)(iii) for renewal, and 46 CFR 10.209(f) for reissuance of a
    license as Master of Steam or Motor Vessels of Not More Than 100 Gross
    Tons (except oceans).

Upgrade Master 100 to Master 200 tons
    Any applicant who has successfully completed your 32-hour Upgrade
    Master 100 Tons to Master 200 Tons course and who presents your
    Certificate of Training at a Regional Exam Center WITHIN ONE YEAR of
    the completion of training, will satisfy the exam requirements of 46 CFR
    10.207 for upgrade of a license from Master 100 Tons Near Coastal to
    Master 200 Tons Near Coastal.

Master/Mate Fishing (near coastal)
    Any applicant who has successfully completed your 8-hour Master/Mate
    Fishing (Near Coastal) course and who presents your Certificate of
    Training at a Regional Exam Center WITHIN ONE YEAR of the
    completion of training, will satisfy the examination requirements of 46
    CFR 10.205(i) for original issuance, 46 CFR 10. 209(c)(iii) for renewal,
    and 46 CFR 10.209(f) for reissuance of a license as Master or Mate of
    Uninspected Fishing Industry Vessels (Near Coastal) –PROVIDED– that
    they either hold a current license valid for service on near coastal vessels
    of at least 150 gross registered tons OR have satisfied the examination
    requirements for a license as Master Not More Than 200 Gross Tons
    (Near Coastal) WITHIN ONE YEAR prior to license application.

Celestial Navigation (200 tons)
    Any applicant who has successfully completed your 60-hour Celestial
    Navigation (200 Tons) course and who presents your Certificate of
    Training at a Regional Exam Center WITHIN ONE YEAR of the
    completion of training, will satisfy the celestial navigation examination
    requirements of 46 CFR 10.215(c) and 10.401(d) for adding an “Upon
    Oceans” endorsement to any deck license up to Master Not More Than
    200 Gross Tons, or to a license as Master or Mate of Uninspected Fishing
    Industry Vessels.

Radar Observer (Unlimited)
    Any applicant who has successfully completed you 5-day Radar Observer
    (Unlimited) course will satisfy the requirements of 46 CFR 10.480 for an
    endorsement as Radar Observer (Unlimited).

Able Seaman Course
    Any applicant who has successfully completed your 48-hour Able
    Seaman course and who presents your Certificate of Training at a
    Regional Exam Center WITHIN ONE YEAR of the completion of training,
    will satisfy the 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.
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Columbia Pacific Maritime provides USCG approved courses for Merchant Mariner Credentials.