Requirements for Deck Officers.
Section 16
SEC. 16. Requirements for Deck Officers. — Master Mariner. — Applicant must be a holder of a Chief Mate license who has served on merchant marine vessels of not less than two hundred fifty gross tons as Chief Mate for a period of two years, six months of which must be on merchant marine vessels registered for the foreign trade and at least six months on merchant marine vessels registered for the coastwise trade: Provided, however, That if he has registered for the coastwise trade only, he can still qualify for a Master Marine license but limited to merchant marine vessels on coastwise trade, until such time when he will have served the required six months as Chief Mate on merchant marine vessels registered for the foreign trade, then his Master Mariner license (limited) shall automatically be changed to Master Mariner license (unlimited) without examination, and upon recommendation and presentation of certificate of service from the Masters of such vessels: Provided, further, That if he has served two years as Chief Mate on merchant marine vessels registered for the foreign trade only, he can still qualify for a Master Mariner license but limited to merchant marine vessels on foreign trade, until such time when he will have served six months as Chief Mate on merchant marine vessels registered for the coastwise trade, then his Master Marine License (limited) shall automatically be changed to Master Marine license (unlimited) without examination, and upon recommendation and presentation of a certificate of service from the Master of such vessel. Chief Mate — Applicant must be a holder of Second Mate license who has served on merchant marine vessels of not less than two hundred fifty gross tons as Second Mate, for a period of one year, four months of which must be on merchant marine vessels registered for the foreign trade and ax least four months on merchant marine vessels registered for the coastwise trade: Provided, however, That if he has served one year as Second Mate on merchant marine vessels registered for the coastwise trade only, he can still qualify for a Chief Mate's license but limited to merchant marine vessels on coastwise trade, until such time when he will have served the required four months as Second Mate on Merchant Marine vessels registered for the foreign trade, then his Chief Mate license (unlimited) without examination, and upon recommendation and presentation of a certificate of service from the Master of such vessel. Second Mate. — Applicant must be a holder of Third Mate license who has served on merchant marine vessels of not less than two hundred fifty gross tons as Third Mate, for a period of one year with at least four months on merchant marine vessels registered for the foreign trade and at least four months on merchant marine vessels registered for the coastwise: Provided, however, That if he has served one year as Third Mate on merchant marine vessels registered for the coastwise trade only, he can still qualify for a Second Mate's license but limited to merchant marine vessels on coastwise trade, until such time when he will have served the required four months as Third Mate on Merchant marine vessels registered for the foreign trade, then his Second Mate license (limited) shall automatically be changed to Second Mate license (unlimited) without examination, and upon recommendation and presentation of a certificate of service from the Master of such vessel: Provided, further, That if he has served one year as Third Mate on merchant marine vessels registered for the foreign trade only, he can still qualify for a Second Mate's license but limited to merchant, marine vessels on foreign trade, until such time when he will have served the required four months as Third Mate on Merchant marine vessels registered for coastwise trade, then his Second Mate license (limited) shall automatically be changed to Second Mate license (unlimited) without examination, and upon recommendation and presentation of a certificate of service from the Master of such vessel. Third Mate. — Applicant must be a holder of a degree of Bachelor of Science in Marine Transportation, major in Navigation and Seamanship, after completion of a nautical curriculum of academic and theoretical studies, and eighteen months of practical apprenticeship which must be served with at least four months on merchant marine vessels of not less than two hundred fifty gross tons registered for foreign trade, and at least four months on merchant marine vessels of not less than two hundred fifty gross tons registered for coastwise trade, such apprenticeship to be under the direct supervision of a permanent staff of the institution assigned solely for such purpose. Major Patron. — An applicant for Patron in major coastwise trade shall be at least twenty-five years of age and shall produce a certificate showing that he has passed high school or its equivalent in an officially recognized school and that he has navigated on a coastwise or a high sea vessel as boatswain, quartermaster, sailor or apprentice mate on a merchant marine vessel of not less than two hundred fifty gross tons for a period of at least ten years, or that he has navigated as minor patron for at least five years. Minor Patron. — An applicant for certificate of Patron in the Minor coastwise trade shall not be less than twenty-five years of age and shall produce satisfactory evidence showing that he has passed high school or its equivalent in an officially recognized school and that he has navigated on a coastwise or high sea vessel of thirty gross tons or over a period of not less than five years as boatswain, or quarter-master or sailor. Bay, lake, river or harbor Patron. — An applicant for a certificate as Patron for bay, lake, river or harbor shall be at least twenty-five years of age and shall produce satisfactory evidence showing that he has passed high school or its equivalent in an officially recognized school, and that he has navigated on board a vessel or watercraft of three gross tons and above for a period of not less than five years as seaman or quartermaster.