Time At Sea - What Counts?

[FollowingCs]

Hey all, I've searched the forums and browsed 5 pages of posts, and checked the USCG web site, but can't find an answer to the question:

I've found plenty of info:
- 8 hours on the vessel counts as a 'day at sea'.
- no more than one count per calendar day (i.e. 2 8 hour shifts on different vessels doesn't count)

The question I can't seem to find an answer to is:

What do you have to do on the vessel for it to count as 'at sea'?

If I own my own yacht, and spend 14 days at anchor somewhere, does that count as 'at sea'? From all I can tell, it meets the '8 hours on a vessel' criteria.

If I own my own fishing boat, and I spend a day out fishing, does that count?

Thanks in Advance,
~ Following C's ~

[SV Lift]

It's 4 hours (not 8) but you must be underway. So being anchored or in a slip doesn't count.

Taking your own boat out fishing does.

[FollowingCs]

Originally Posted by SV Lift

It's 4 hours (not 8) but you must be underway. So being anchored or in a slip doesn't count.

Taking your own boat out fishing does.

Okay, great. Little difficult to find in the USCG regulations.

The 4 hours is for 6-pack license right? If you ever wanted to "upgrade", it needs to be 8 hours per day? But that's not really my question just yet, so no long explanation needed, perhaps just to clarify for future readers.

Thanks,
~ Following C's ~

[Stumble]

For my 100tonn they accepted 4 hour days as a day. But keep in mind a license is just the begining. Almost all active cruisers and boaters can qualify for a 6-pac for licensing purposes, it's the insurance companies that are difficult to qualify with.

[Dsanduril]

4 hour "days" underway can count up to 100T, above 100T it has to be 8 hours. On a two-watch vessel you can get credit for 12 hours (one and one half days of sea time for each calendar day) under certain conditions (http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/professional...lfDocument.pdf).

In the end, however, it all comes down to the examiner's decision over whether your 4-hour days should count, and how much:

Each application is evaluated on its merit. 46 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 10.201(a) states that each applicant must satisfy the Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection (OCMI) that he or she possesses all the qualifications for the license

the 4-hour "day" is the minimum, but acceptance is not mandatory. Eight hours underway (away from the dock/anchor) is what is defined. The 4 hour system was put in place for small vessels such as ferries that might make several trips in a single day. A deckhand on those boats may work an 8 or even 12 hour shift, but only be "underway" for four of those hours. The examiner wants to be convinced that your experience is largely similar (i.e. boat handling chores even while not underway).

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by FollowingCs

Hey all, I've searched the forums and browsed 5 pages of posts, and checked the USCG web site, but can't find an answer to the question:

I've found plenty of info:
- 8 hours on the vessel counts as a 'day at sea'.
- no more than one count per calendar day (i.e. 2 8 hour shifts on different vessels doesn't count)

The question I can't seem to find an answer to is:

What do you have to do on the vessel for it to count as 'at sea'?

If I own my own yacht, and spend 14 days at anchor somewhere, does that count as 'at sea'? From all I can tell, it meets the '8 hours on a vessel' criteria.

If I own my own fishing boat, and I spend a day out fishing, does that count?

Thanks in Advance,
~ Following C's ~

Keep looking. I hadn't looked in years but there is , has, a good description. Also depends at sea, on what, depending on the lic..

[LTDsailing]

"The question I can't seem to find an answer to is:

What do you have to do on the vessel for it to count as 'at sea'?

If I own my own yacht, and spend 14 days at anchor somewhere, does that count as 'at sea'? From all I can tell, it meets the '8 hours on a vessel' criteria.

If I own my own fishing boat, and I spend a day out fishing, does that count?"



You can only count time spent underway.

It comes down to the definition of "Underway". A vessel is considered to be underway when it is not moored, at anchor, aground or tied to a dock.

So - 14 days at anchor do not count. However, a day spent out fishing would count.

[Arthur Garfield]

Stumble -

you mentioned the dificulty with insuramce companies - will you elaborate upon this please ?



All the Best