It was a lot of work and study, but I will have to also say that it was very interesting and a great challenge. I took the course study and testing through
Captain Roy's. Lots of information on that site about the requirements. There are also some practice test questions. The OUPV (6 pack) takes three week-ends. Friday from 5-9, Sat and Sun from 8-5. All the materials, manuals, plotting and charting materials and instruments are included. That would give you a Masters in an uninspected vessel of up to 100 tons with a limit of 6 paying passengers. For an additional full three day week-end you would be able to pass the additional test for Masters of 100 ton Inspected Vessel with paying passengers up to the limit of the vessel. Depending on your sea time you would apply for Inland ( 360 days in inland waters. Puget Sound, San Juans) or Near Coastal if you have that time in near coastal waters, ie, Straite of Juan De Fuca out and up and down the coast with in 200 miles. Also included is the test for Towing Endorsement if you ever want to tow for money.
The difficult part is getting in the required sea time. You can use any time since your 16th BD including military if it was in an occupation on a vessel which would qualify. I was a radar operator in deck division on a carrier and that counted.
The TWIC card (Transportation Workers ID Card) is something new that must be obtained by April of next year before you can apply for a license. About $135 for an ID card enabling you to get near or into sensitive marine areas, Truck drivers, employees on vessels, etc. More Homeland Security at work. I am not required to get one at this point and unless I have and opportunity of employment that required it or I am told I must, I am not going to.
I am getting some additional time of the Guemes Ferry (91 ton) now. First day was yesterday. Interesting propulsion system of 2 Azipods. Fully rotateable prop pods. No helm wheel or rudders. All the controls are on a high table type top with all the other switches, lights and controls. A large knob rotates the Azipod with a forward and reverse lever on the top of it. The aft one acts as a sailboat tiller. You turn the opposite direction you want to go. The forward one you turn towards the direction you want to go. A little confusing at first. I am at the point that I can take the ferry out of the slip and across the channel and then I turn it over to the Captain. Not quite ready to dock it yet. I'll probably spend 3-4 days a week on her and be able to have some recent time on a larger vessel when I submit my application to the CG.
