Chapter XVI: The Examination for Licenses—master and Mates

Original Licenses.

Before an original license is issued to any person to act as a master, mate, pilot, or engineer he shall personally appear before some local board or a supervising inspector for examination. Any person who has attained the age of 19 years and has had the necessary experience shall be eligible for examination: _Provided_, That no person shall receive a license as master or chief engineer before reaching the age of 21 years.

Inspectors shall, before granting an original license to any person to act as an officer of a vessel, require the applicant to make written application upon the blank form furnished by the Department of Commerce, to be filed in the inspectors' office. When practicable, applicants for master's, mate's, pilot's, or engineer's license shall present to the inspectors, to be filed with their application, discharges or letters from the master or other officer under whom they have served, certifying to the name of the vessel and in what capacity the applicant has served under him; also period of such service. Inspectors shall also, when practicable, require applicant for pilot's license to have the written indorsement of the master and engineer of the vessel upon which he has served, and of one licensed pilot, as to his qualifications. In the case of applicants for original engineer's license, they shall also, when practicable, have the indorsement of the master and engineer of a vessel on which they have served, together with one other licensed engineer.

The first license issued to any person by a United States inspector shall be considered an original license, where the United States records show no previous issue to such applicant.

No original license shall be issued to any naturalized citizen on less experience in any grade than would have been required of a citizen of the United States by birth. (R. S., 4405.)

The requirements for a license have been greatly modified, and the following circular letter sets forth the minimum technical knowledge necessary to pass the examiners:

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE STEAMBOAT INSPECTION SERVICE WASHINGTON

June 13, 1917.

U. S. Supervising and Local Inspectors, Steamboat-Inspection Service.

Under the provisions of Section 4405, Revised Statutes of the United States, as amended by the act of Congress approved February 8, 1907, the executive committee of the Board of Supervising Inspectors, Steamboat-Inspection Service, at a called meeting held in Washington, D. C., from June 4 to 12, inclusive, 1917, adopted the following resolutions:

These amendments of the rules, having received the approval of the Secretary of Commerce on June 12, 1917, have now the force of law, and must be observed accordingly.

Renewal of licenses.

_Resolved_, That section 8, Rule V, General Rules and Regulations, all classes, be struck out and the following substituted therefor:

8. Whenever an officer shall apply for a renewal of his license for the same grade, the presentation of the old license with oath of officer shall be considered sufficient evidence of his title to renewal, which old license and oath of office shall be retained by the inspectors upon their official files as the evidence upon which the license was renewed.

Whenever a licensed officer makes application for a renewal of his license, he shall appear in person before some board of local inspectors or supervising inspector, except that upon renewal of such license for the same grade, when the distance from any local board or supervising inspector is such as to put the person holding the same to great inconvenience and expense to appear in person, he may, upon taking oath of office before any person authorized to administer oaths, and forwarding the same, together with the license to be renewed, to the local board or supervising inspector of the district in which he resides or is employed, have the same renewed by the said inspectors, if no valid reason to the contrary be known to them; and they shall attach such oath to the stub end of the license, which is to be retained on file in their office: _Provided, however_, That any officer holding a license, and who is engaged in a service which necessitates his continuous absence from the United States, may make application in writing for renewal and transmit the same to the board of local inspectors, with its certificate of citizenship, if naturalized, and a statement of the applicant, verified before a consul or other officer of the United States authorized to administer an oath, setting forth the reasons for not appearing in person; and upon receiving the same the board of local inspectors that originally issued such license shall renew the same and shall notify the applicant of such renewal, and no license as master, mate, or pilot of any class of vessel shall be renewed without a certificate that the color sense of the applicant is normal. (R. S., 4405, 4438.)

Amendments of general rules and regulations, ocean and coastwise.

_Resolved_: That sections 20 to 30, both inclusive, Rule V, General Rules and Regulations, Ocean and Coastwise, be struck out and the following substituted therefor:

Substituting service in next lower grade for raise of grade.

20. Except as hereinafter provided, an applicant who has served in a lower grade than that for which he is licensed may substitute service in the grade next below that for which he is licensed, which service shall count one-half in computing experience for raise of grade. For example, if an applicant holds chief mate's license and has served nine months as chief mate and six months as second mate, the six months' service as second mate shall count as three months as chief mate in computing experience.

Master of ocean steam vessels.

21. An applicant for license as master of ocean steam vessels shall be eligible for examination after he has furnished satisfactory documentary evidence to the local inspectors that he has had the following experience:

_First._ One year's service as chief mate of ocean steam vessels, or

_Second._ Two years' service as second mate of ocean steam vessels, one year of such service while holding a license as chief mate of ocean steam vessels, or

_Third._ Two years' service as watch officer actually in charge of a bridge watch on ocean steam vessels, while holding a license as chief mate of ocean steam vessels, or

_Fourth._ Five years' service as third mate of ocean steam vessels, two years of such service while holding a license as chief mate of ocean steam vessels, or

_Fifth._ Five years' service on ocean sail vessels of 300 gross tons or over, two years of such service while holding a license as master of sail vessels, or

_Sixth._ One year's service as master or chief mate of coastwise steam vessels.

Examination for master of ocean steam vessels.

22. An applicant for license as master of ocean steam vessels shall pass a satisfactory examination as to his knowledge of the following subjects:

1. Latitude by meridian altitude of the sun.
2. Latitude by ex-meridian altitude of the sun.
3. Latitude by meridian altitude of a star.
4. Latitude by pole star.
5. Longitude by chronometer (A.M. and P.M.).
6. Position by Sumner's method.
7. Day's work.
8. Mercator's sailing.
9. Deviation of the compass by an amplitude.
10. Deviation of the compass by an azimuth.
11. Time of high water at a given port.
12. Chart navigation.
13. Storm signals.
14. International code of signals.
15. International rules for preventing collisions at sea.
16. Use of gun and rocket apparatus for saving life from shipwreck,
as practiced by the United States Coast Guard.
17. Such further examination of a non-mathematical character as the
local inspectors may require.

Masters of coastwise steam vessels.

23. An applicant for license as master of coastwise steam vessels shall be eligible for examination after he has furnished satisfactory documentary evidence to the local inspectors that he has had the following experience:

_First._ One year's service as chief mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Second._ Two years' service as second mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, one year of such service while holding a license as chief mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Third._ Five years' service as third mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, two years of such service while holding a license as chief mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Fourth._ One year's service as master of lake, bay, or sound steam vessels and in addition thereto one year's service as second mate, third mate, quartermaster or wheelsman on ocean or coastwise steam vessels while holding a license as master of lake, bay, or sound steam vessels, or

_Fifth._ Five years' service on ocean or coastwise sail vessels of 300 gross tons or over, two years of which service shall have been as master, or

_Sixth._ One year's service as a licensed master of ocean or coastwise sail vessels of 700 gross tons or over, or

_Seventh._ Two years' service as master of lake, bay, or sound towing steam vessels for license as master of coastwise towing steam vessels of 300 gross tons or under.

In cases where the experience of an applicant for license as master of coastwise steam vessels does not meet the specific requirements of this section, other service which the local inspectors consider a fair and reasonable equivalent may be accepted by them in lieu of the service herein specified.

Examination for master of coastwise steam vessels.

24. An applicant for license as master of coastwise steam vessels on routes exceeding 300 miles shall pass a satisfactory examination as to his knowledge of the following subjects:

1. Latitude by meridian altitude of the sun.
2. Latitude by pole star.
3. Day's work.
4. Determination of distance from a fixed object.
5. Chart navigation.
6. International rules for preventing collisions at sea.
7. Storm signals.
8. Use of gun and rocket apparatus for saving life from shipwreck,
as practiced by the United States Coast Guard.
9. Such further examination of a non-mathematical character as the
local inspectors may require.

An applicant for license as master of coastwise steam vessels on route not exceeding 300 miles shall pass a satisfactory examination as to his knowledge of the following subjects:

1. Chart navigation.
2. Aids to navigation on route.
3. Determination of distance from a fixed object.
4. International rules for preventing collisions at sea.
5. Storm signals.
6. Such further examination of a non-mathematical character as the
local inspectors may require

Masters of sail vessels.

25. An applicant for license as master of sail vessels of over 700 gross tons shall be eligible for examination after he has furnished satisfactory documentary evidence to the local inspectors that he has had the following experience:

_First._ Five years' service in the deck department of sail vessels of 200 gross tons or over, one year of such service shall have been as master of sail vessels of 500 gross tons or over, or

_Second._ Two years' service as master of sail vessels of 200 gross tons or over, or

_Third._ Two years' service as mate of sail vessels of 500 gross tons or over, or

_Fourth._ Two years' service as master of auxiliary sail vessels of 100 gross tons or over.

In cases where the experience of an applicant for license as master of sail vessels does not meet the specific requirements of this section, other service which the local inspectors consider a fair and reasonable equivalent may be accepted by them in lieu of the service herein specified.

Examination for license as master of sail vessels.

26. An applicant for license as master of sail vessels shall pass a satisfactory examination as to his knowledge of the following subjects:

1. Latitude by meridian altitude of the sun.
2. Latitude by pole star.
3. Longitude by chronometer (A.M. and P.M.).
4. Day's work.
5. Mercator's sailing.
6. Deviation of the compass by an amplitude.
7. Deviation of the compass by an azimuth.
8. Chart navigation.
9. International code of signals.
10. Storm signals.
11. International rules for preventing collisions at sea.
12. Use of gun and rocket apparatus for saving life from shipwreck,
as practiced by the U. S. Coast Guard.
13. Such further examination of a non-mathematical character as the
local inspectors may require.

Chief mate of ocean steam vessels.

27. An applicant for license as chief mate of ocean steam vessels shall be eligible for examination after he has furnished satisfactory documentary evidence to the local inspectors that he has had the following experience:

_First._ One year's service as a licensed second mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Second._ Two years' service as watch officer on ocean or coastwise steam vessels, while holding license as second mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Third._ Two years' service as third mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, one year of such service while holding a license as second mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Fourth._ Two years' service as master of lake, bay, or sound steam vessels of 1,000 gross tons or over, or

_Fifth._ Five years' service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise sail vessels of 200 gross tons or over, two years of which service as chief mate of such ocean or coastwise sail vessels, or

_Sixth._ Two years' service in the deck department of steam vessels engaged in the ocean or coastwise fisheries, one year of such service to have been as master of such vessels, or

_Seventh._ Five years' service in the deck department of sail vessels engaged in the ocean or coastwise fisheries, two years of such service to have been as master of such vessels.

In cases where the experience of an applicant for license as chief mate of ocean steam vessels does not meet the specific requirements of this section, other service which the local inspectors consider a fair and reasonable equivalent may be accepted by them in lieu of the service herein specified.

Second mate of ocean steam vessels.

28. An applicant for license as second mate of ocean steam vessels shall be eligible for examination after he shall have furnished satisfactory documentary evidence to the local inspectors that he has had the following experience:

_First._ One year's service as third mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Second._ Three years' service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, one year of such service shall have been as watch officer or quartermaster on such vessels, or

_Third._ A graduate from the seamanship class of a nautical school ship together with three months' service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Fourth._ Three years' service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise sail vessels of 200 gross tons or over, one year of such service shall have been as second mate of such vessels, or

_Fifth._ One year's service as quartermaster of ocean or coastwise steam vessels while holding a license as third mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Sixth._ Three years' service as a seaman in the deck department of ocean or coastwise sail vessels together with one year's service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Seventh._ Five years' service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise sail vessels of 100 gross tons or over. Service on sail vessels engaged in the ocean or coastwise fisheries shall be accepted as meeting the requirements of this paragraph, or

_Eighth._ One year's service as first-class pilot of lake, bay, or sound steam vessels of 500 gross tons or over, together with three months' service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Ninth._ One year's service as master of lake, bay, or sound steam vessels of 500 gross tons or over

In cases where the experience of an applicant for license as second mate of ocean steam vessels does not meet the specific requirements of this section, other service which the local inspectors consider a fair and reasonable equivalent may be accepted by them in lieu of the service herein specified.

Examination for license as chief mate and second mate of ocean steam vessels.

29. An applicant for license as chief mate or second mate of ocean steam vessels shall be required to pass a satisfactory examination as to his knowledge of the following subjects:

1. Latitude by meridian altitude of the sun.
2. Latitude by meridian altitude of a star.
3. Longitude by chronometer (A.M. and P.M.).
4. Deviation of the compass by an amplitude.
5. Deviation of the compass by an azimuth.
6. Day's work.
7. Mercator's sailing.
8. Determination of distance from a fixed object.
9. Chart navigation.
10. Storm signals.
11. International code of signals.
12. International rules for preventing collisions at sea.
13. Stowage of cargo.
14. Use of gun and rocket apparatus for saving life from shipwreck,
as practiced by the United States Coast Guard.
15. Such further examination of a non-mathematical character as the
local inspectors may require.

Third mate of ocean steam vessels.

30. An applicant for license as third mate of ocean steam vessels shall be eligible for examination after he has furnished satisfactory documentary evidence to the local inspectors that he has had the following experience:

_First._ Two years' service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Second._ Three years' service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise sail vessels, or

_Third._ A graduate from the seamanship class of a nautical school ship, or

_Fourth._ One year's service as master or pilot of lake, bay, or sound steamers.

In cases where the experience of an applicant for license as third mate of ocean steam vessels does not meet the specific requirements of this section, other service which the local inspectors consider a fair and reasonable equivalent may be accepted by them in lieu of the service herein specified.

Examination for license as third mate of ocean steam vessels.

31. An applicant for license as third mate of ocean steam vessels shall be required to pass a satisfactory examination as to his knowledge of the following subjects:

1. Latitude by meridian altitude of the sun.
2. Day's work.
3. Mercator's sailing.
4. Determination of distance from a fixed object.
5. Chart navigation.
6. International rules for preventing collisions at sea.
7. Stowage of cargo.
8. Storm signals.
9. Such further examination of a non-mathematical character as the
local inspectors may require.

Chief mate of coastwise steam vessels.

32. An applicant for chief mate of coastwise steam vessels shall be eligible for examination after he has furnished satisfactory documentary evidence to the local inspectors that he has had the following experience:

_First._ One year's service as second mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Second._ One year's service as first-class pilot of lake, bay, sound steam vessels, together with one year's service as quartermaster or wheelsman on ocean or coastwise steam vessels while holding a license as first-class pilot of lake, bay, or sound steam vessels, or

_Third._ Two years' service as third mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Fourth._ Two years' service in the deck department of steam vessels engaged in the ocean or coastwise fisheries, one year of such service to have been as master of such vessels, or

_Fifth._ Five years' service in the deck department of sail vessels engaged in the ocean or coastwise fisheries, two years' of such service to have been as master of such vessels, or

_Sixth._ Two years' service as master of ocean or coastwise sail vessels of 200 gross tons or over, or

_Seventh._ Three years' service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise steam vessels for license as chief mate of coastwise steam vessels of 500 gross tons or under, or

_Eighth._ Two years' service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise sail vessels together with one year's service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise steam vessels for license as chief mate of coastwise steam vessels of 500 gross tons or under, or

_Ninth._ One year's service as master or two years' service as first-class pilot of lake, bay, or sound towing steam vessels for license as chief mate of coastwise towing steam vessels of 300 gross tons or under.

In cases where the experience of an applicant for license as chief mate of coastwise steam vessels does not meet the specific requirements of this section, other service which the local inspectors consider a fair and reasonable equivalent may be accepted by them in lieu of the service herein specified.

Second mate of coastwise steam vessels.

33. An applicant for license as second mate of coastwise steam vessels shall be eligible for examination after he has furnished satisfactory documentary evidence to the local inspectors that he has had the following experience:

_First._ One year's service as third mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Second._ One year's service as quartermaster or wheelsman on ocean or coastwise steam vessels while holding a license as third mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Third._ Three years' service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Fourth._ Two years' service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise sail vessels together with one year's service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Fifth._ A graduate from the seamanship class of a nautical school ship together with three months' service in the deck department of an ocean or coastwise steam vessel, or

_Sixth._ One year's service as a licensed master of lake, bay, or sound steam vessels, or

_Seventh._ Two years' service as first-class pilot of lake, bay, or sound steam vessels, or

_Eighth._ One year's service as first-class pilot of lake, bay, or sound steam vessels, together with three months' service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Ninth._ One year's service as chief mate of ocean or coastwise steam vessels engaged in the fisheries, or

_Tenth._ One year's service as master of ocean or coastwise sail vessels engaged in the fisheries.

In cases where the experience of an applicant for license as second mate of coastwise steam vessels does not meet the specific requirements of this section, other service which the local inspectors consider a fair and reasonable equivalent may be accepted by them in lieu of the service herein specified.

Third mate of coastwise steam vessels.

34. An applicant for license as third mate of coastwise steam vessels shall be eligible for examination after he has furnished satisfactory documentary evidence to the local inspectors that he has had the following experience:

_First._ Two years' service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise steam vessels, or

_Second._ Three years' service in the deck department of ocean or coastwise sail vessels, or

_Third._ A graduate from the seamanship class of a nautical school ship, or

_Fourth._ One year's service as master or first-class pilot of lake, bay, or sound steam vessels.

In cases where the experience of an applicant for license as third mate of coastwise steam vessels does not meet the specific requirements of this section, other service which the local inspectors consider a fair and reasonable equivalent may be accepted by them in lieu of the service herein specified.

Examination for license as chief mate and second mate of coastwise steam vessels.

35. An applicant for license as chief mate or second mate of coastwise steam vessels on routes exceeding 600 miles shall be required to pass a satisfactory examination as to his knowledge of the following subjects:

1. Latitude by meridian altitude of the sun.
2. Day's work.
3. Determination of distance from a fixed object.
4. International rules for preventing collisions at sea.
5. Chart navigation.
6. Stowage of cargo.
7. Storm signals.
8. Such further examination of a non-mathematical character as the
local inspectors may require.

An applicant for license as chief mate or second mate of coastwise steam vessels on routes of 600 miles or less shall be required to pass a satisfactory examination as to his knowledge of the following subjects:

1. Chart navigation.
2. Aids to navigation on route.
3. Determination of distance from a fixed object.
4. Marking of lead line.
5. International rules for preventing collisions at sea.
6. Storm signals.
7. Such further examination of a non-mathematical character as the
local inspectors may require.

Examination for license as third mate of coastwise steam vessels.

36. An applicant for license as third mate of coastwise steam vessels shall pass a satisfactory examination as to his knowledge of the following subjects:

1. Chart navigation.
2. Determination of distance from a fixed object.
3. International rules for preventing collisions at sea.
4. Marking lead line.
5. Storm signals.
6. Such further examination of a non-mathematical character as the
local inspectors may require.

Indorsement of Inland Licenses for Ocean Service.

_Resolved_, That whenever it may appear to the satisfaction of the Supervising Inspector General, that the demand for licensed officers for ocean and coastwise vessels of the American merchant marine is such that it cannot be met under existing requirements and regulations he may authorize local inspectors to indorse the license of officers of lake, bay, and sound steam vessels for ocean or coastwise service for a period not to exceed six months or until such officer shall have passed a satisfactory examination for ocean or coastwise service within this period.

Officers whose licenses have been so indorsed shall present themselves for examination at the earliest possible opportunity after said indorsement.

Amendments of General Rules and Regulations for Bays, Sounds, and Lakes Other than the Great Lakes.

Experience Qualifications of Officers Eliminated.

_Resolved_, That for the present and until further notice, sections 20, 21, 23, 26, 31 and 32 of Rule V, General Rules and Regulations applying to Lakes (other than the Great Lakes), Bays, and Sounds, be struck out, and local inspectors notified that hereafter in issuing licenses to officers of vessels within this classification they may exercise the judgment and discretion vested in them by the law, without regard to the experience required by the rules and regulations the sufficiency of such experience to be determined by the local inspectors when the candidate applies for examination.