Lifeboatman is for vessels equipped with lifeboats as well as liferafts, rescue boats, and other survival equipment while Lifeboatman - Limited is for vessels that only have liferafts, rescue boats, and other survival equipment.
This means that if you are going to work on a vessel that has lifeboats such as the ones below you need to hold a Lifeboatman.
If you are working on vessels that only have lifecrafts, rescue boats, and other survival equipment then you only need Lifeboatman - Limited.
We recommend checking with your employer on what type of Lifeboatman they need you to have.
How many sea days in the deck department do I need for my Lifeboatman?
The sea service requirements for Lifeboatman and Lifeboatman - Limited are dependant on if you've taken an USCG approved Course.
USCG Approved Course?
Sea Days Required
With a USCG Approved Lifeboatman or Lifeboatman - Limited Course
180 Sea Days in any department on any vessel on any waters
No USCG Approved Course
360 Sea Days in any department on any vessel on any waters
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 Expert Access inside of the site.
No matter what, when you are ready to submit your application you can do it yourself, or you can hand the whole thing to us. An MM-SEAS Navita Navigator walks you through submitting in Navita, the Coast Guard's new submission portal, on a short video call. No computer, or not up for a video call? Our team gets your application submitted to the Coast Guard for you anyway. A Stress-Free MMC is $399. Two MM-SEAS licensing experts check every page, we pay your Coast Guard fees at submission and charge your card so you never touch pay.gov, and we stay on it with the National Maritime Center until your credential is issued.
MM-SEAS Expert Access is $99 a year. It is your personal guidance counselor for USCG licensing: what training you need next, which sea time counts, and how to reach the credential you want, by phone, email, chat or a 1 on 1 video call. Expert Access members also get $50 off a Stress-Free MMC.
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About the author
Nate Gilman is President and Co-Founder of MM-SEAS. He hawsepiped from the deck to a 3rd Mate Unlimited license with full STCW compliance over more than 15 years at sea, and is a veteran of the NOAA Commissioned Corps. He works directly with the National Maritime Center, USCG-approved training schools, and vessel operators on credentialing policy, and writes on sea service documentation, evaluation standards, and how mariners move up the license ladder.
