ABLE BODIED SEAMAN (AB)

On inspected commercial vessels over 100 gross tons a specified percentage of the deck crew must hold Merchant Mariner’s Credentials endorsed as Able Seaman. An Able Seaman (AB) document is also necessary for you to upgrade your Master’s License, obtain or Oceans Route on your license or be approved for the OICNW STCW certification. The level of Able Seaman you qualify for is determined by the amount of sea time you have, the size of the vessels, as well as the waters they were operated on. Our 6 day USCG Approved Program is approved to satisfy testing requirements for any Able Seaman Endorsement.

Note: STCW Requirements, including but not limited to Practical Assessments for RFPNW. Basic Safety Training, Proficiency in Survival Craft or Lifeboatman must be completed separately from the Able Seaman Course.

ABLE SEAMAN (ANY WATERS) UNLIMITED

  • US Citizenship or Proof of Foreign Citizenship (Non – US Only) or Legal Immigration Status (Permanent Residence).
  • STCW Basic Safety Training
  • Requires RFPNW Program Completion – completed the “RFPNW Assessments”
  • PSC with Lifeboatman Course
  • 1080 days of “service on deck” of vessels operating on ocean, near coastal or Great Lakes waters.
  • * * See note at bottom of this page regarding Character of Qualifying Service for Able Seaman

ABLE SEAMAN LIMITED

  • US Citizenship or Proof of Foreign Citizenship (Non – US Only) or Legal Immigration Status (Permanent Residence).
  • STCW Basic Safety Training
  • Requires RFPNW Program Completion – completed the “RFPNW Assessments”
  • PSC with Lifeboatman Course
  • 540 days of “service on deck” of vessels operating on ocean, near coastal waters (inland time can be counted towards the total however it cannot be used for the entire requirement).

* * See note at bottom of this page regarding Character of Qualifying Service for Able Seaman

ABLE SEAMAN SPECIAL

  • US Citizenship or Proof of Foreign Citizenship (Non – US Only) or Legal Immigration Status (Permanent Residence).
  • STCW Basic Safety Training Requires
  • RFPNW Program Completion – completed the “RFPNW Assessments”
  • PSC with Lifeboatman Course
  • 360 days of “service on deck” of vessels operating on ocean, near coastal waters, generally over **65 feet in length.

** May vary somewhat from one Coast Guard evaluator to the next.

ABLE SEAMAN SPECIAL – Offshore Support Vessel (OSV)

  • US Citizenship or Proof of Foreign Citizenship (Non – US Only) or Legal Immigration Status (Permanent Residence).
  • STCW Basic Safety Training Requires
  • (Optional) RFPNW Program Completion – completed the “RFPNW Assessments”
  • PSC with Lifeboatman Course
  • 180 days of service on any waters on vessels over 15 tons.

Character Of Qualifying Service for Able Seaman

Background

**The sea service requirements for the able seaman ratings are set forth in 46 U.S.C.  7307 through 7311a. The source statute as recodified in 1983 was 46 U.S.C. 672. Originally, that statute provided for three types of able seaman ratings. The service required for what are now AB-Unlimited and AB-Limited had to be on vessels of 100 gross tons or more. In 1980, Congress modified the statute to, among other things, provide an orderly ladder of advancement based on experience levels. It created the current AB ratings and specified the required sea service to qualify for each. It eliminated the minimum vessel size requirement for qualifying sea service toward AB-Unlimited. It specified that the service must be service on deck and it defined “service on deck.”