§ 12.10-3 - General requirements.

(a) An applicant to be eligible for an endorsement as lifeboatman must meet one of the following requirements:

(1) At least 1 year's sea service in the deck department, or at least 2 years' sea service in the other departments of ocean, coastwise, Great Lakes, and other lakes, bays, or sounds vessels.

(2) Graduation from a schoolship approved by and conducted under rules prescribed by the National Maritime Center.

(3) Satisfactory completion of basic training by a Cadet of the United States Merchant Marine Cadet Corps.

(4) Satisfactory completion of 3 years' training at the U.S. Naval Academy or the U.S. Coast Guard Academy including two training cruises.

(5) Satisfactory completion of a course of training approved by the National Maritime Center, or service aboard a training vessel.

(6) Successful completion of a training course, approved by the National Maritime Center, such course to include a minimum of 30 hours' actual lifeboat training; provided, however, that the applicant produces satisfactory evidence of having served a minimum of 6 months at sea board ocean or coastwise vessels.

(b) An applicant, to be eligible for an endorsement as lifeboatman, shall be able to speak and understand the English language as would be required in the rating of lifeboatman and in an emergency aboard ship.

(c) An applicant shall be 18 years old to be eligible for an endorsement as proficient in survival craft under STCW Regulation VI/2 (incorporated by reference in §12.01-3).

[CGFR 65-50, 30 FR 16640, Dec. 30, 1965, as amended by CGD 95-072, 60 FR 50460, Sept. 29, 1995; CGD 95-062, 62 FR 34537, June 26, 1997; USCG-1998-4442, 63 FR 52189, Sept. 30, 1998; USCG-1999-5610, 67 FR 66068, Oct. 30, 2002; USCG-2004-18884, 69 FR 58343, Sept. 30, 2004; USCG-2006-24371, 74 FR 11256, Mar. 16, 2009]