Question of the Week
WWII Merchant Mariners
Don't forget the "Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act" (S663 & HR23). This legislation needs to be acted upon soon if it is to have any significance. For more information as well as links to Representatives, go to www.usmm.org.
Merchant Mariner Credential
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If you have questions about qualifying for the new Merchant Mariner Credential, please contact us.
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| Reading Range Lights |
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Range lights (or "leading lights" as the British call them) are pairs of lights (a front light usually lower than a rear light) that perform several functions. Mariners can find safe passage through the deepest water in a channel by steering toward or "on" the range. If the range opens up, that is if the lights appear to split apart, the mariner is warned that his vessel is not in the safest part of the channel. (Sectored lights provide similar information.) In some areas subject to heavy silting, the front range light is mounted on a track so that it can be moved to accommodate the whims of the shape-shifting river. By comparing the compass bearing of the lights when in line with the charted (or true) bearing of the same lights, range lights can also be used to determine compass error. Reading Range Lights
#1507 Book #3
Answer: D. This is a fairly straightforward question. The following questions are less so.
#267 Book #3
Answer: C Given the information in the question as applied to Diagram 47NG, it is clear we need to get to the left but are being set to the right when we steer 306°T. So we alter course to the left until the range closes. Then to stay on the range we must steer less than (to the left of) 306°T. Steering 306°T has already been shown to set us to the right of the range. #2868 Book #3
Answer: B Same principle, different diagram and slightly different choices. We must go right and we might as well do it sooner rather than later. #2805 Book #3
Answer: D Same diagram, different application. The range lights indicate to the anchoring vessel the presence of a channel. She must be careful not to obstruct vessels transiting the area. #2001 Book #3
Answer: B Here we get to use both diagrams. Starting with DO48NG and ending at D047NG, we see that, based on the range openings, we are being set to the right, which from our perspective in this problem is north. Because these questions can be a little tricky, one of our students designed a classroom simulation to add the necessary third dimension. He took two "plumbers' friends" -- a tall and a short one -- rigged them with bike lights and aligned them as indicated in the diagrams. His "simulator" unplugged the obstruction to understanding.
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In the News
In the News
Collisions, groundings, piracy, rescues -- bad things, inexplicable things and, as in the freeing of Capt. Richard Phillips, very good things happen. Here is our record of such events as they come to our attention. Read More On the Quarter
On the Quarter
Barbecues in LaPaz? Flags of Convenience? Is 'acronym' an acronym? We are pretty sure our ruthlessly inquisitive father was born to blog, so we've invited him to do it here, in "On the Quarter." Read More
National Maritime Center
National Maritime Center
The National Maritime Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, is the US Coast Guard's processing center for all mariner licensing and credential transactions. The website provides information for new mariners, continuing mariners, returning mariners -- license and STCW requirements, applications, policy and guidance. It also enables the mariner to check on the status of his or her pending application. Read More
Regulation Watch
Regulation Watch
Mariners increasingly find themselves beset by regulations from a variety of sources. We will try to alert you here to significant changes (proposed and enacted) to maritime laws, affecting licensing requirements, examination procedures and documentation requirements as found in the Federal Register, USCG Navigation and Inspection Circulars (NVICs), Policy and Guidance Statements. Read More
Towing Licenses
Obtaining a Towing License
Over the last several years there have been significant changes in the licensing requirements for operators of towing vessels. It used to be that licenses authorizing operation on inspected vessels would satisfy the requirements for most towing vessels of lesser or equal tonnage. This is no longer the case. There are now several ways to become an officer on a towing vessel, ranging from the entry level Apprentice Steersman to service-in-training while holding a previously issued license. Read More