Preparing for Class

• Send in your USMA Registration Form to reserve your place in class!

• Find your Social Security Card now! If you cannot find it, then apply for a duplicate.

  Be sure and ask for a receipt with your number on it. You must have the actual card.

• Find your Birth Certificate or Passport. Apply locally for certified copies if necessary.

• Start organizing your sea time. This will be thoroughly discussed the first night,

   but begin outlining. This can be a complicated process, but here are the basics:
       

   • You are trying to accumulate a minimum of 360 days of sea time. See Documenting Sea Time

              This may be on your own vessel (easiest) or on a friend’s, family’s,

              or working vessels. One day is considered four or more hours. An afternoon

              cruise would suffice.

    • Your time must be on either Great Lakes, Oceans, or Navigable Rivers/Lakes.

         Time on small interior lakes or rivers may need further approval by the Coast Guard.

   • You may use time obtained since your sixteenth birthday. Ninety days of your time,

      however, must be within the last three years. This is a Coast Guard recency clause

      and may be difficult for those of you operating in seasonal waters. Remember, the

      Certificate of Training you receive upon graduation is valid for one year. This allows
      for time to conform to the recency requirement by accumulating additional time before

      turning in your Coast Guard License Application.

   • You must show proof of ownership for your own vessel if it is to be used for sea service time.

      This is usually in the form of a state registration or a bill of sale. If you are using time on a vessel

      you owned previously, then contact the state registration department and request a copy for

      verification of your old registration.

    • If you are using vessels other than your own, the owner must write a letter with complete

      information concerning your time and the vessel. If it is not on their company letterhead they

      must notarize it. It is wise for you to complete the information in letter form so that they can

      either have it notarized or retype it on their letterhead. Begin this process early!
      A sample letter may be found at Sample Sea Service Letter
     

    • Begin to outline your 360/720 days. Use the Sea Service Form.Make a quick calendar noting

      the number of days for a particular month in a given year. For example: June/1992:4 days;

     1993: 10 days and so on.

      Total the days. Do this for each vessel you are using until your time totals at least 360 days.

      Use recent time first and work backwards. Remember 90 days should be in the last three years.

     Also note the waters that the vessel was operated upon, the registration number or documentation number.

    • Remember, we will be formalizing this process in class so don't get to carried away!