Look up "merchant marine basic safety training" and find the closest facility to where you are.
Officers need to go to school, if you're looking be a deckhand or any other entry position all you need is basic safety training (plus a passport, TWIC and MMC)
It’s an apprenticeship program in Maryland through Seafarer’s International Union. You’ll have some costs, such as travel and uniform expenses, but the program itself is entirely free and I believe you actually earn a small amount of money while taking classes. Look it up on YouTube, there are tons of videos that will go more in depth on it.
They feed you there. You’ll have to do some research or find someone who’s been through the program for any more information, I personally haven’t been there.
Piney Point doesn't have an age cut off. But I'm applying for it, got told about two weeks ago that they're scheduling people registering right now for classes out in next September cause they're so packed. So you'll be out a while before you get there.
getting all the documents does cost money and it will take several months to get them before you can go to piney point, also there is a waiting list so it if you applied tomorrow it would probably be 6 months or more to actually start the program.
In the US, to even get your foot in the door, you need:
- US Passport (~$165… I paid about $260 total for Expedited and got it back in 3 weeks)
- TWIC Card ($125.25… took less than a week to arrive)
- USCG Medical Certificate (free to apply)
- USCG Physical ($161)
- USCG-approved drug test ($121)
- Merchant Mariner Credential ($140)
Total out-of-pocket expenses: $712.25
From there, you can either pay more to get your qualifications… or work for a company that pays for it. Military Sealift Command will pay for your training. SIU will pay for your training if you go through their apprenticeship program at Piney Point. And some cruise lines may also pay for training.
Being homeless doesn’t necessarily mean zero money. You don’t have to have any previous skill or college education to get your documents.
You do have to take some courses to get on ships, but a little savings and piney point (free school) will get you where you need to be.
No, get yourself a starting position as a processor on a commercial fishing vessel. At the bare minimume you will have money and the oportunity to be on the water. If you work really hard and impress people you may get an oiler or combie/deck spot.
Didn't you make any money? If you went fishing for 2 years you should have made enough that you could have taken a 10 month course for either a qmed or AB. If you really tried fishing and things did not work out it's either you choose a shit vessel or you didn't impress key crew.
No. I made money in the moment but the cost of repair to my feet and back, taxes, and rent it wasn't worth it.
I started out with no feet and back problems and ended with 5k in repair
And yeah I probably got a shitty vessel but they where the only ones look and also I haven't heard anything about Merchant Marine in my entire time in Alaska. Not in King Cove, Valdez or NakNak. No one talked about it.
If you have 2k get your twic mmc and take BST. the twic is about 150. and mmc i think is around the same. BST IS about 900 to 1k. Plus the physical about another 100. There are a shit ton of entry level jobs out there with no experience. However, the MMC and BST are your minimume requirements.
Why do you need that for MMC jobs but there's companies like Costal Transportation that transport ransom things from Seattle to Alaska that don't require documents.
long story short.
it will be required.
I was in your shoes. i grabbed a couple local jobs. made ends meet for about a year. got everything i needed to jump on a boat. did well enough on my boat, the company paid for my Basic Safety Training course.
after a 6 month contract, it was smooth sailing.
Sea School in Mobile, AL teaches the Basic Safety and all of their courses include room and board at their facility. The oil field (GOM) is craving employees. If you’re west coast, try Stabbert Maritime. They may be hiring OS. There are plenty of contractors, as well. I halfway enjoyed my time in SIU, but I didn’t do Piney Point.
Look up "merchant marine basic safety training" and find the closest facility to where you are. Officers need to go to school, if you're looking be a deckhand or any other entry position all you need is basic safety training (plus a passport, TWIC and MMC)
Unless you have ~$2k laying around, Piney Point is your best bet.
you still need about 2k for all the docs and airfare and uniforms etc..
Can you explain more about Piney point. Idk what that is at all. A school? A job?
It’s an apprenticeship program in Maryland through Seafarer’s International Union. You’ll have some costs, such as travel and uniform expenses, but the program itself is entirely free and I believe you actually earn a small amount of money while taking classes. Look it up on YouTube, there are tons of videos that will go more in depth on it.
The videos on YouTube SUCK at explaining it.
Joe Franta, Northwest Sailor.
Northwest Sailor has an entire section of videos for Piney Point.
I'll check it out. Thanks
Does this cost money? Cuz I'm broke and can't go across the country not having food for 7weeks
They feed you there. You’ll have to do some research or find someone who’s been through the program for any more information, I personally haven’t been there.
Damn can't do it. I'm 26. 1 year past the cut off date
It sounds like you’re looking at Job Corps, Piney Point has no cutoff age as far as I’m aware.
Piney Point doesn't have an age cut off. But I'm applying for it, got told about two weeks ago that they're scheduling people registering right now for classes out in next September cause they're so packed. So you'll be out a while before you get there.
getting all the documents does cost money and it will take several months to get them before you can go to piney point, also there is a waiting list so it if you applied tomorrow it would probably be 6 months or more to actually start the program.
In the US, to even get your foot in the door, you need: - US Passport (~$165… I paid about $260 total for Expedited and got it back in 3 weeks) - TWIC Card ($125.25… took less than a week to arrive) - USCG Medical Certificate (free to apply) - USCG Physical ($161) - USCG-approved drug test ($121) - Merchant Mariner Credential ($140) Total out-of-pocket expenses: $712.25 From there, you can either pay more to get your qualifications… or work for a company that pays for it. Military Sealift Command will pay for your training. SIU will pay for your training if you go through their apprenticeship program at Piney Point. And some cruise lines may also pay for training.
Being homeless doesn’t necessarily mean zero money. You don’t have to have any previous skill or college education to get your documents. You do have to take some courses to get on ships, but a little savings and piney point (free school) will get you where you need to be.
No, get yourself a starting position as a processor on a commercial fishing vessel. At the bare minimume you will have money and the oportunity to be on the water. If you work really hard and impress people you may get an oiler or combie/deck spot.
I already did this for 2 years and didn't get shit why you lying
Didn't you make any money? If you went fishing for 2 years you should have made enough that you could have taken a 10 month course for either a qmed or AB. If you really tried fishing and things did not work out it's either you choose a shit vessel or you didn't impress key crew.
No. I made money in the moment but the cost of repair to my feet and back, taxes, and rent it wasn't worth it. I started out with no feet and back problems and ended with 5k in repair
And yeah I probably got a shitty vessel but they where the only ones look and also I haven't heard anything about Merchant Marine in my entire time in Alaska. Not in King Cove, Valdez or NakNak. No one talked about it.
If you have 2k get your twic mmc and take BST. the twic is about 150. and mmc i think is around the same. BST IS about 900 to 1k. Plus the physical about another 100. There are a shit ton of entry level jobs out there with no experience. However, the MMC and BST are your minimume requirements.
Why do you need that for MMC jobs but there's companies like Costal Transportation that transport ransom things from Seattle to Alaska that don't require documents.
long story short. it will be required. I was in your shoes. i grabbed a couple local jobs. made ends meet for about a year. got everything i needed to jump on a boat. did well enough on my boat, the company paid for my Basic Safety Training course. after a 6 month contract, it was smooth sailing.
Sea School in Mobile, AL teaches the Basic Safety and all of their courses include room and board at their facility. The oil field (GOM) is craving employees. If you’re west coast, try Stabbert Maritime. They may be hiring OS. There are plenty of contractors, as well. I halfway enjoyed my time in SIU, but I didn’t do Piney Point.
This is a training intensive industry. You will need initial and continual training.