If you want to be an able seaman, you must master a number of skills. These abilities, such as knot tying, road rules, and navigation fundamentals, are all required to become a capable seaman. In order to become an able seaman, you must also complete classroom work, spend a certain amount of time at sea, and pass both a physical and a drug test. To participate in the classroom portion of the training, you must be at least 18 years old.
If you are 18 years old or older, have the required time on the sea or on the United States Great Lakes, and want to work as an able seaman on an American flagged ship, you must take and pass a course offered by the US Coast Guard (USCG). Deck safety, general deck duties, and rules of the road while at sea will be covered in the 40-hour course. You will also receive basic navigation training, which will equip you with the skills necessary to safely operate on board a ship and work as part of a crew. You’ll also have to pass a physical exam to ensure that you’re in good enough physical shape to withstand the rigors of sea duty.
You will be required to take and pass a drug screen in addition to a physical examination to test for drug use. You may begin your classroom training, which will take a total of 40 hours, once both exams have cleared you for duty. Marlinspike seamanship will be part of the training. This will teach you a variety of skills that you will need if you want to be an able seaman.
Working with ropes, cables, and the proper method of tying a ship at dock are all part of the Marlinspike seamanship training. This marlinspike seamanship course covers knot tying and line splicing, as well as selecting the appropriate rope for any given application. The marlinspike, a tool used in rope and cable splicing, is the name of the course.
The amount of time spent at sea varies depending on which of the seven types of seaman you want to be. The amount of time spent at sea varies between six months and three years, and it must be fully documented in order to be claimed. After the classroom portion is completed, the USCG will review your paperwork to ensure that you have all of the necessary skills to become an able seaman. The USCG will endorse your license, stating that you are eligible to work as an able seaman, once all skills and requirements have been verified and met.