Nate Gilman
Sea service for USCG Licensing while performing bridge watchkeeping duties under supervision
Updated: Mar 25, 2022
The USCG Licenses of 500 GRT Mate Near Coastal and 1600 GRT Mate Near Coastal need you to provide documentation that you were performing bridge watchkeeping duties under the supervision of the master or a qualified officer.
This can be done as a member of the deck department including as a training mate, an OS, AB or any other title that your company uses for someone who is standing bridge watch and helping out.

In addition to actually sailing in this capacity, you also need to provide the paperwork to back it up.
The most common way is for your employer to provide the text below into your annual sea service letter.
<MARINER NAME> served on <VESSEL NAME> from <START DATE ON LETTER> to <END DATE ON LETTER>. <MARINER NAME> served as a <POSITION SERVED> for <NUMBER OF DAYS SUPERVISED> while performing bridge watchkeeping duties under the supervision of the master or a qualified officer.
If you are or were an active duty service member and you were sailing as a Junior Officer of the Deck (JOOD) that time will also count as performing bridge watchkeeping duties under the supervision of the master or a qualified officer.

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