THE PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR
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Tall Ship Sailors

Coast Guard Licensing

Earning a Coast Guard credential in the Tall Ship fleet is a great step to further your career.  It can be a challenging process, but we are here to help!  Contact the instructor any time with questions, or refer to the below guidance which details a common path for Tall Ship mates beginning their careers in the industry. 

Tall Ships America members and members of designated Partner Organizations receive steep discounts on all courses with Practical Navigator, including free tuition in many cases. 

Able Seaman (Sail)

With 180 days of sea service on sailing school vessels or oceanographic research vessels propelled primarily by sail, you can earn a national Able Seaman credential.  This credential is helpful for many vessels in the Tall Ship fleet and is a great first step into credentialing. 

In order to earn your AB Sail, you'll need: 
  • 180 days of sea service
  • Standard Coast Guard application process
  • Pass an Able Seaman Course - our online course meets this requirement and consists of two exams (Rules of the Road combined with Navigation, as well as Deck General/Safety), and a marlinspike seamanship demonstration.  All of this can be completed online.
  • EITHER Pass a Lifeboatman Course - this course is in development with Practical Navigator, and there are many great alternatives available including this one from Pathfinder Maritime. 
  • OR - with 360 days of sea service, no class is required, you can instead complete your practical demonstration aboard your SSV from the enclosure to NVIC 04-14.
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Check out the AB Course
Steep discounts off are available for Tall Ships America or partner organization members by contacting the instructor. ​

100 Ton Master and/or 200 Ton Mate

With 360 days of sea service on vessels of appropriate tonnage, you can earn a 100 Ton Inland Master and/or a 200 Ton Near Coastal Mate credential.  These courses involve five tests for the 100-ton, and one additional summative test for the 200 ton upgrade. Subjects include Deck General, Deck Safety, Navigation General, Chart Plotting, and Rules of the Road. 

In order to earn your 100 Ton Inland Master or 200 Ton Near Coastal Mate credential, you need: 
  • 360 days of sea service including 90 days over 100 tons.
  • Standard Coast Guard application process
  • Take exams or pass a course (and upgrade course)
  • First Aid and CPR certification

The difference between near coastal and inland waters deals with the "Boundary Line;" inside of the boundary line is Inland Waters, and outside of the boundary line, out to 200 nautical miles, is Near Coastal Waters. 

Depending on your unique situation, sea service, etc., you may qualify for certain variations on these licenses, such as location or tonnage variations/limitations.
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Check Out the 100 Ton Course
Steep discounts off are available for Tall Ships America or partner organization members by contacting the instructor. ​
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Check out the 200 ton upgrade

Auxiliary Sailing Endorsement and Oceans/Celestial Navigation 

Once you have begun your licensing path, a logical step for Tall Ship sailors is to earn an Auxiliary Sail Endorsement or to upgrade your existing license to Oceans waters.  

In order to earn your Auxiliary Sail Endorsement, you must pass an exam or take a class, and have 180 days of sea service on sail powered vessels (in most cases). This endorsement is applicable to any level of license. 

 
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For those seeking to level-up their mate career on certain ocean-going vessels, the Oceans Navigation course is a good fit.  
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In order earn an Oceans Navigation upgrade to a 200-ton license, you must first earn a 200-ton near coastal licenses (360 days of sea service plus exams), and then pass a very challenging exam/course for celestial navigation.  This course is helpful for anyone interested in celestial navigation, but particularly useful for those sailing more than 200nm offshore.

Subjects for the Oceans/Celestial course include great circle sailing, azimuth/amplitudes, time phenomena, and celestial sight reductions of the sun, stars, moon, and planets.  
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Check out the Sailing Endorsement Course
Steep discounts off are available for Tall Ships America or partner organization members by contacting the instructor. ​
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Check out the oceans nav course

Earning Advanced Credentials

Once you have earned initial Mate qualifications up to 200 ton Inland, Near Coastal, or Oceans, your next could include pursuing an STCW (international) credential, increasing the scope of your existing license to Master, or increasing your tonnage to 500+ tons.  

Practical Navigator has a library of license preparation courses which prepare you for USCG exams at any tonnage level from OUPV to Unlimited Tonnage.  Contact the instructor for Tall Ships discount codes to these courses.  

STCW (international) licenses often require additional expensive training - use the USCG license checklists or use the USCG Approved Courses tab to find a course near you. 

A great place to start for STCW licenses is Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch, which you can do on your own vessel with a qualified assessor or licensed master. 
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Check out the license prep courses

Frequently Asked Questions: 

What is the deal between National and STCW licenses? 
National licenses such as 100 ton master, 200 ton mate, or Able Seaman are used on vessels which travel in U.S. waters, often up to 200nm offshore.  STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping) licenses such as Basic Training, Able Seafarer, and Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (RFPNW) are used on vessels which travel internationally.  Good advice is to think about your career goals and the companies which you choose to work with, and then pursue the licenses that best fit your goals. 
 
How much sea service must I have before pursuing a credential? 
The earliest credential most mariners achieve is Able Seaman (Sail), which requires 180 days of sea service.  Inland master credentials and near coastal mate credentials generally require 360 days of sea service.  Near coastal and oceans master licenses generally require 720 or more days of sea service.  Ordinary Seaman, Wiper, and Steward's Department can earn credentials with no sea service.  Also, marina launch-tender and limited master licenses are available at lower sea service levels.  

Is license mentoring available? 
The best resource for tall ship career mentoring is through the Tall Ships America Mentoring Program.  Practical Navigator is also always happy to answer licensing questions as well by contacting the instructor. 

How much do the courses cost?
For Tall Ships America members and other partner organization members, Practical Navigator courses are generally 75%-100% discounted; we just ask that the student can cover the mailing/technology costs.    

Partner Organizations

These organizational partners have special discount rates for online courses for developing crew members.  All are exceptional organizations that work hard to advance the cause of seagoing education and career development for crew members.  Click on the images to learn more about each organization.  
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​Practical Navigator Training

1037 NE 65th Street #80170

​Seattle WA, 98115

​www.practicalnavigator.org


chris@practicalnavigator.org
Practical Navigator Training is a veteran-owned business committed to improving understanding of navigation and licensing for mariners.
“Whenever I meet with the words 'Thus it plainly appears,' I am sure that hours and perhaps days of hard study will alone enable me to discover how it plainly appears.” 
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                                             ― Nathaniel Bowditch
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