If thinking of a career on deck and eventually harbor pilot any thoughts as to which major is best, and why, "Marine Transportation" or "Maritime Logistics and Security"? Thanks!
Most people believe ML&S is a more challenging major and provides a broader view of the maritime industry. I am not in the industry, but I am friends with several maritime leaders. They all have voiced a preference for ML&S, and see "straight deck" as the easy path. You can find a list of required classes for all five majors on the USMMA website under "Academics."
If by career on deck you mean sailing as deck officer, either will result in a 3/M license. Out of curiosity I looked at the course lists. The difference between the two programs is really minimal. M L&S just looks like what I would considered a minor within the Marine Transportation major. When you go to work on ships no one will care which you picked as long as you work hard, have a thick skin, good sense of humor, and never leave the coffee pot empty.
Most pilots associations do not require a college degree so any one will do.
We used to refer to liberty as "Deck Ops"Senior year in Marine Transportation is a breeze, senior year in ML&S is spent writing reports and projects.
I was a Systems major, so please forgive my mild amusement at Mr 2020 describing the tough semester senior year if you pick Super Deck as your major. To the OP don’t let our sniping at each other bother you. It how we pass the time.
Aspiring to be a pilot is a worthy goal and either major is will work.. The test for federal First Class Pilotage is not too bad, if you're prepared.. I've written for pilotage in three different ports and in my experience the chart draw was probably the easiest part in all of those tests. Accumulating the number of trips over the pilotage grounds in order to take the Coast Guard exam might be the more challenging prerequisite. As far as seatime, many pilot associations don't even require seatime on an unlimited license. I had two classmates who started their careers on ship assist tugs. They NEVER left the confines of San Francisco Bay, never advanced their license past unlimited 3rd Mate, and both went on to become full fledged SF bay pilots. They both had no 'family relations' to get into the association; they just worked their way up from deck hands to apprentice pilots to full pilots. I have friends that are pilots in the Puget Sound and down in Los Angeles/Long Beach that have similar backgrounds.. Just like anything, if you're good, you want it bad enough and you put in the work, it's attainable.. Also piloting is not for everybody. I just had to chuckle at the characterization of piloting as 'pinnacle of licensed deck officers'.. During my career I had a few occasions to handling my own ship in harbor and alongside, and although I was comfortable with shiphandling, it wasn't something I wanted to do for a living; especially on ships I wasn't familiar with; and I have a lot of colleagues that feel the same way. After you get into Kings Point [and hopefully graduate] you'll have plenty of time to sort all that out.. Take it all in small bites..If thinking of a career on deck and eventually harbor pilot any thoughts as to which major is best, and why, "Marine Transportation" or "Maritime Logistics and Security"? Thanks!
Aspiring to be a pilot is a worthy goal and either major is will work.. The test for federal First Class Pilotage is not too bad, if you're prepared.. I've written for pilotage in three different ports and in my experience the chart draw was probably the easiest part in all of those tests. Accumulating the number of trips over the pilotage grounds in order to take the Coast Guard exam might be the more challenging prerequisite. As far as seatime, many pilot associations don't even require seatime on an unlimited license. I had two classmates who started their careers on ship assist tugs. They NEVER left the confines of San Francisco Bay, never advanced their license past unlimited 3rd Mate, and both went on to become full fledged SF bay pilots. They both had no 'family relations' to get into the association; they just worked their way up from deck hands to apprentice pilots to full pilots. I have friends that are pilots in the Puget Sound and down in Los Angeles/Long Beach that have similar backgrounds.. Just like anything, if you're good, you want it bad enough and you put in the work, it's attainable.. Also piloting is not for everybody. I just had to chuckle at the characterization of piloting as 'pinnacle of licensed deck officers'.. During my career I had a few occasions to handling my own ship in harbor and alongside, and although I was comfortable with shiphandling, it wasn't something I wanted to do for a living; especially on ships I wasn't familiar with; and I have a lot of colleagues that feel the same way. After you get into Kings Point [and hopefully graduate] you'll have plenty of time to sort all that out.. Take it all in small bites..
Also, piloting does take a certain mindset.. You know the difference between God and a pilot? God knows he's not a pilot..
Yeah, there are a fair amount of tug jockeys that end up being pilots. . . .Most pilots associations do not require a college degree so any one will do.
indeed there are.. and some of the best pilots I saw were tugboat guys that had never worked on a deep sea ship before becoming pilots..Yeah, there are a fair amount of tug jockeys that end up being pilots. . . .
indeed there are.. and some of the best pilots I saw were tugboat guys that had never worked on a deep sea ship before becoming pilots..