100 ton Captains Lic

[BlackPearl36c]

Does anyone know of the requirements to get a captains license in New York? I have a client that wants to get his capt lic. is there a school he has to attand prior to taking the test does anyone know a website I can go to to find schools for his to attend.

 

[Angela]

You don't have to go to school, but most people do because the school teaches to the test questions. And as the class goes along, they will tell you "you should remember that one" which means that question is on the test, or they will tell you "don't spend a lot of time on that" which means it's not on the test. All you really have to do is pass the test.

www.seaschool.com

http://www.seaschool.com/frm-ScheduleChoicesny.htm (class schedules in NY).

I believe there is another school, as well - is that right guys?

 

[yachtbrokerguy]

Licenses are issued by the US Coast Guard and requirements are the same in all states. Basically for 100 tons, you need 730 days of sea time with a restriction for how much of the sea time was within the last few years. The license tonnage is based on your experience.
The USCG website is www.uscg.mil/nmc for the National Maritime Center.
A school is not required to get the license but will help in passing the test. When I got got my license way back in 1973, the only school in the US was in New Orleans, I was working on boats in the Gulf and did not have the time off to attend, I studied nav lights while running in the dark. There was a real incentive to learn the lights for a tug pushing barges ahead or a vessel towing a submerged object.
There are some schools here in Florida, but there may be online courses available. The test questions are available on line but there are something like 4000 questions to study.

 

[Freeebird]

I got mine through www.truecourses.com

You can look to see if they have a location near you.

 

[BlackPearl36c]

so the gent has only operated a 52 ocean as his largest vessel. He would probably only qualify for a 50 ton max right? He is purchasing a 82 footer and basically wants to get his capt lic to avoid having to pay a captain every time he wants to move the boat.

 

[ThirdHatt]

SeaSchool is everywhere and highly regarded as far as these schools go. SeaSchool is who I used back in 2004 for my test. The one thing that really sticks in my mind as a big advantage of SeaSchool over the others is that for your one-time fee, SeaSchool will let you re-take the class at any time again FOR FREE. If there are any changes or updates to the test, they update the course accordingly. This is great to refresh your memory, hone your skills, or just to keep sharp as the years pass.

 

[Pascal]

DependS on the actual tonnage of his boat. You get 1.5 times the GT rounded up to the next level

For instance if the 52 is 36GT then 1.5 time is 54 which rounds up to 100

He shouldn't expect miracles from the underwriters as 52 to 82 is a big jump and they know a license doesn't mean the guy knows what he s doing. If he s owned the 52 for a long time he may get coverage but it s a stretch

 

[Will]

Unless he is carrying passengers, he shouldn't need a Master's license regardless of the size of his boat.
Will

 

[Freeebird]

Unless he is carrying passengers, he shouldn't need a Master's license regardless of the size of his boat.
Will

Can be an insurance requirement regardless of whether or not he carries paying passengers. Short of that, he doesn't need a license at all.

 

[Pascal]

Unless he is carrying passengers, he shouldn't need a Master's license regardless of the size of his boat.
Will

he's trying to show the insurers that he has some training, which is always good and helps out qualify for insurance, but as mentioned previously even with a ticket it may be difficult for the insurers to sign off on the size jump, at least initially.

 

[rsmith]

theres more to it than just getting the licence ,you need a TWIC card, drug test, comprehensive medical test, renewal every 5 years with documentation of intirim sea service.written drug testing plan for your crew and on and on.
I started with a six pack then a Ocean Operators licence and you had to take local knoledge tests for each area you were allowd to operate in.
Plus its not a Captains licence its a Merchant Marine Officers Licence

 

[ThirdHatt]

I think your client may be better off shopping a little harder for insurance rather than going through the whole license hassle "just so he doesn't have to pay a Captain every time he wants to move the boat". Not all insurance companies require a Captain on an 82' boat, but many do.

I went from a 58' to a 78' and although it was not as big a jump as a 52' to a 82', I recall that there was one company who would not quote it. I am not sure if it was because of the size jump or because I run the boat myself but I didn't care because I still had several other quotes to choose from. Even if your friend has to choose a policy that may not be his first choice, at least get the coverage bound so that when it comes time for a renewal he will have a year of (hopefully) claim-free history with the boat. That will surely open up the doors of other companies willing to underwrite a policy for him after he has owned the boat for a while as opposed to taking the risk of a new upgrade.

 

[BlackPearl36c]

He is a CLIENT not a friend, I am his insurance broker, and yes I have shopped him with every carrier that will underwrite a yacht of this size in the areas he wants to navigate. I have prices ranging form 7,000 to 12,000 have not run into a carrier that will not write him at all, however most want a full time captain employed (for at least one year) , a couple of the others only have captains warranites while the vessel is navigating and one said he is fine with the expierience he has as long as he has one other expierienced crew with him (yes his wife counts).

And just so you guys know almost all insurance carriers will issue a owner / operator policy if the gent has a captains license of appropriate tonnage for the vessel. he gets a discount and they dont break his chops. hell they dont even check the issue date.

Just trying to perform my due diligance here for the client he wanted to know about it and I know you gentlemen are well versed in all things here so figured id ask instead of googling it and giving him some website to drown in. I try to help my clients out as much as possible and give them all the options rather than just throw something at them and say this is it sign here give me your check.

 

[rsmith]

He is a CLIENT not a friend, I am his insurance broker, and yes I have shopped him with every carrier that will underwrite a yacht of this size in the areas he wants to navigate. I have prices ranging form 7,000 to 12,000 have not run into a carrier that will not write him at all, however most want a full time captain employed (for at least one year) , a couple of the others only have captains warranites while the vessel is navigating and one said he is fine with the expierience he has as long as he has one other expierienced crew with him (yes his wife counts).

And just so you guys know almost all insurance carriers will issue a owner / operator policy if the gent has a captains license of appropriate tonnage for the vessel. he gets a discount and they dont break his chops. hell they dont even check the issue date.

Just trying to perform my due diligance here for the client he wanted to know about it and I know you gentlemen are well versed in all things here so figured id ask instead of googling it and giving him some website to drown in. I try to help my clients out as much as possible and give them all the options rather than just throw something at them and say this is it sign here give me your check.

They may not check the issue date but if they require a full time Master with specific endorsements he better be up to date if theirs a wreck. Insurance co's will weasel their way out of paying for any little loophole they can get. In fact if he /she is full time you better believe they will check if your paying their SS otherwise their a contractor and not a full time employee. A for real Master will cost the guy $100k+ way more than a elevated premium.
Its when they have to pay the claim that the problem starts.

 

[ThirdHatt]

He is a CLIENT, not a friend......... and one said he is fine with the expierience he has as long as he has one other expierienced crew with him (yes his wife counts).

And just so you guys know almost all insurance carriers will issue a owner / operator policy if the gent has a captains license of appropriate tonnage for the vessel.

I did refer to him as your client, not as your friend. It sounds like you have found your client's new policy already. If they are fine with his experience and that of his wife, sign him up.

Of course almost all carriers will issue an owner/operator policy if the gent has a Captain's license because there is always going to be a Captain on board. Requirement met. The carrier doesn't care if the Captain is hired or if he happens to be the owner, all they care about is his experience and capability level. My example was merely one in which did NOT require a Captains license to get coverage.

The $7k-12k annual oremium could be expensive or inexpensive, it is all relative to the agreed value of the boat. If the boat is only worth $400k, it is expensive but if the value is well over $1M it is a good deal. Usually my goal is an annual premium close to (or less than) 1% of the agreed value of the boat. My annual premium came in at 1.04% of agreed value although some quotes were closer to 2%. I only got quotes from top rated American companies. I did not entertain Lloyds of London or any other overseas carriers.

 

[rsmith]

I did refer to him as your client, not as your friend. It sounds like you have found your client's new policy already. If they are fine with his experience and that of his wife, sign him up.

Of course almost all carriers will issue an owner/operator policy if the gent has a Captain's license because there is always going to be a Captain on board. Requirement met. The carrier doesn't care if the Captain is hired or if he happens to be the owner, all they care about is his experience and capability level. My example was merely one in which did NOT require a Captains license to get coverage.

The $7k-12k annual oremium could be expensive or inexpensive, it is all relative to the agreed value of the boat. If the boat is only worth $400k, it is expensive but if the value is well over $1M it is a good deal. Usually my goal is an annual premium close to (or less than) 1% of the agreed value of the boat. My annual premium came in at 1.04% of agreed value although some quotes were closer to 2%. I only got quotes from top rated American companies. I did not entertain Lloyds of London or any other overseas carriers.

wish I could get it for %1 I can't even get bare bones lia for that

 

[BlackPearl36c]

The $7k-12k annual oremium could be expensive or inexpensive, it is all relative to the agreed value of the boat. If the boat is only worth $400k, it is expensive but if the value is well over $1M it is a good deal. Usually my goal is an annual premium close to (or less than) 1% of the agreed value of the boat. My annual premium came in at 1.04% of agreed value although some quotes were closer to 2%. I only got quotes from top rated American companies. I did not entertain Lloyds of London or any other overseas carriers.

The hull value is well over a million and yes 1% should be the goal as long as your not cutting coverage to get there. Lloyds is actually a very good company to deal with when it comes to claims ive had them pay out when nobody not even the insured thought they would we've had them pay out when admitted carriers were denying the same type of claim for another client. I would much rather keep all of my clients in A+ rated admitted carriers when possible but sometimes it just isnt. Admitted carriers are getting tighter and tighter with the restrictictions especially north south type restrictions so sometimes going to London is the only option. Plus alot of our clients are from overseas to beginwith and dont care what company they get written in.

 

[ThirdHatt]

wish I could get it for %1 I can't even get bare bones lia for that

Unfortunately, the age of the vessel has alot to do with the high premiums and the Hurricanes of the mid 2000's really drove up the rates. I was paying 1.3% back in 2005 on a 1972 58YF, but afer Hurricane Kartina it jumped up to nearly 3% even though I never made a claim! It stayed there until I bought a 1993 boat, then all of a sudden the premiums dropped back down close to 1%. It's a shame because so many of the older boats are built better and stronger than the newer boats. It depends on the manufacturer and construction methods, not the age of the vessel.

 

[ThirdHatt]

The hull value is well over a million and yes 1% should be the goal as long as your not cutting coverage to get there. Lloyds is actually a very good company to deal with when it comes to claims ive had them pay out when nobody not even the insured thought they would we've had them pay out when admitted carriers were denying the same type of claim for another client. I would much rather keep all of my clients in A+ rated admitted carriers when possible but sometimes it just isnt. Admitted carriers are getting tighter and tighter with the restrictictions especially north south type restrictions so sometimes going to London is the only option. Plus alot of our clients are from overseas to beginwith and dont care what company they get written in.

With the hull value well over $1M, $12k is quite fair and $7k is a bargain (if the carrier is A+)! Why worry about the Captains license at all? He's not being priced out of the market, so I would take the company that is OK with his experience and be done with it. Even if they happened to be the $12k/yr quote, that is still very reasonable especially considering the size jump.

I've heard both good and bad about Lloyds and I am pleased to hear that you have had good luck with them. I have several friends insured with Lloyds that had issues with getting paid and in a timely fashion after Katrina, but everyone with the U.S. based carriers were made whole again quickly. In fact, they were out shopping for new boats the next month. I'm sure your overseas clients would not have a problem with Lloyds. I am an American so I prefer an American company and I will gladly pay extra for that privelege. To me good insurance is about feeling good about risk so if I can feel more comfortable for a small percentage more, I'm all in.