How do I renew my radar observer on my USCG license with sea time?

You need to submit documentation of 360 sea days in the last 5 years that say verbatim that you "carried out Bridge Watch duties in a position that routinely uses radar for navigation and collision avoidance purposes."

If you cannot produce the documentation of seatime while using radar, you will need to take an original, refresher, or recertification Radar Observer course or have taught an original, refresher, or recertification Radar Observer course twice in the last 5 years.

How to get credit for using radar for the three types of official documentation of sea service that is issued  for civilians:

Vessels less than 200 GRT and you used a  CG-719S (Small Vessel Sea Service Form)

If you routinely used a radar on vessels less than 200 GRT and you used a  CG-719S (Small Vessel Sea Service Form) You will need a separate memo on official letterhead signed by the captain, owner or vessel manager which states the start date and the end date of your service as well as the following statement:

“YOUR NAME carried out Bridge Watch duties in a position that routinely uses radar for navigation and collision avoidance purposes."

If you own your boat you can complete the memo for yourself and it does not need to be on letterhead.

Large commercial vessels you will be issued a CG-718A (Certificate of Discharge Form).

For large commercial vessels you will be issued a CG-718A (Certificate of Discharge Form). This is issued from the ship's master every time you depart the vessel.

If your CG-718A (Certificate of Discharge Form) has you in a role that traditionally uses radar such as any Mate or Master you do not need to do anything else to document your time routinely using radar for navigation and collision avoidance purposes.

Sea Service Letter on Company letterhead that exactly follows 46 CFR 10.232.

For all other vessels you will be issued a Sea Service Letter on Company letterhead that exactly follows 46 CFR 10.232. These can be issued from the ship’s master, owner, vessel manager or office staff.

If you routinely using radar for navigation and collision avoidance purposes, you need to make sure your sea service letter includes the following statement:

“YOUR NAME carried out Bridge Watch duties in a position that routinely uses radar for navigation and collision avoidance purposes."

We hope this made your life a little easier and if you have other questions the MM-SEAS team is always here to help!

MM-SEAS is free to use on your own and if you need some more personalized help you can upgrade to MM-SEAS Pro inside of the site.

No matter what, when you are ready to submit your application, you can choose to have the MM-SEAS staff create a perfect application, handle the USCG application fees and work with the USCG on your behalf to resolve any issues for a flat fee of $299 or you can choose to submit on your own.

Pro MM-SEAS members get access to unlimited live 1 on 1 calls with one of our USCG Licensing Specialists. We've found that answering questions live with screen sharing in a video call makes both of our lives easier. Pro MM-SEAS members can access these features inside of MM-SEAS under License Guidance.