Specialized Training Programs
and Courses in the Maritime Sciences

Clatsop Community College's Maritime Science Department (MSD) offers specialized maritime training programs and courses. We offer training for individuals at entry skill levels and for mariners employed within the industry. An example of a group of specialized training courses and programs are the U.S. Coast Guard approved programs. The approved programs may do one, or more, of following; (1) meet U.S. Coast Guard and International Maritime Organization (IMO) training requirements; (2) lead to Coast Guard and STCW (Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers) endorsements; (3) or satisfy Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) requirements.

Courses that lead to U.S. Coast Guard license endorsements include:

  1. Radar Observer Original, "Unlimited". (40-hour course)
  2. Radar Observer Original, "Rivers". (24-hour course)
  3. Radar Observer Re-Certification, "Unlimited" and "Rivers". (8 and 24-hours)
  4. Automatic Radar Plotting Aids. (ARPA)
  5. Global Marine Distress Safety System. (GMDSS)
  6. Celestial Navigation, "Upon Ocean" endorsement for licenses up to 1600 gross tons. (Minimum of 60-hours required for licenses of 500 gross tons or greater)*


The College's License Training Program is approved to satisfy CFR requirements. The approval allows students to complete the Training Program in lieu of U.S. Coast Guard testing for the following licenses:

  1. Master/Mate 200 Gross Tons - Near Coastal/Inland Waters.*
  2. Master/Mate 100 Gross Tons - Near Coastal/Inland Waters.*
  3. Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels.*
  4. Master/Operator Limited Scope Waters. (40-hours)
  5. Able Seaman Program

*See the section on Modular Classes for an explanation of required hours.

Maritime Science Department courses that meet CFR, IMO or Federal Communication Commission (FCC) requirements include:

  1. Marine Safety Drill Conductor (24-hours), CFR requirements
  2. Basic Safety Training (40-hours), IMO and CFR requirements
  3. HAZWOPER (24 and 40 hour), CFR requirements
  4. Global Marine Distress Safety System (GMDSS) Radio Operator, CFR requirements
  5. Bridge Resource Management (24 hour) IMO & CFR requirements.

Maritime Science Department's class format
Classes in the Maritime Science Department meet 8:00 A.M. - 5:00 P.M., Monday through Friday. The courses, or programs, marked with an asterisk * are modular classes. Students may start modular classes any day of the week and complete the required modules at their own learning rate. We sell most modules in forty-hour blocks of time.

The modular format allows students working in the industry additional flexibility for upgrading skills and training requirements.

Marine Safety Training
The College offers marine safety courses that are U.S. Coast Guard approved. Classes are conducted coast-wide with other community colleges and Sea Grant agencies. Marine safety classes cover the following topics: preparation for an emergency; cold water near drowning; hypothermia; cold water survival skills; sea survival; stability; marine fire fighting; and emergency procedures.

Classes can be arranged to meet the needs of specific groups. The course is aimed at certifying commercial fishermen to meet or exceed international maritime organization standards as well as those of the U.S. Marine Safety Advisory Committee. Graduates meet compliance criteria as set forth by the Fishing Vessel Safety Act of 1988.

Other affected groups which can benefit are charter operators and crews; government agencies such as National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, United States Coast Guard, and National Marine Fisheries Service; local and state police; fisheries observers; park rangers; lifeguards; and the general public.

Additional information about this program can be obtained by contacting the Maritime Science Center, (503) 325-7962.

Radar Observer Program
The U.S. Coast Guard approved Radar Observer Program offers you five different courses: Five-day original endorsement, three-day "Rivers" original endorsement, one-day "Rivers" recertification, three-day recertification, and one-day recertification. The five-day original endorsement class is required if you are operating vessels 200 gross tons or over on an ocean route or 300 gross tons on any route. The three-day "Rivers" original endorsement course meets federal requirements for operators of towing vessels of 26 feet or more in length operating solely on rivers. The three-day recertification class is designed for you if you need to renew your "unlimited" endorsement and would like to practice your plotting skills before taking the renewal exam. The one-day recertification class does not include any instruction or practice time and is limited to the exam only. The one-day recertification class is recommended only if you have recent time on direct plotting radars. Instruction in the three- and five-day classes will include radar operation, characteristics of radar waves, target identification, plotting (three-day "Rivers" does not include plotting), and rules of the road for using radar.

Cost of the classes includes books and classroom materials. You must pay at the time you reserve your class seat. For more information about registering for the radar school, call the Maritime Science Center, (503) 325-7962.

ARPA Training
The U.S. Coast Guard approved Automatic Radar Plotting Aid (ARPA) course meets the requirements for STCW certification and endorsement for master, mate and officer in charge of a navigational watch on ships equipped with ARPA radar. Students must currently hold an unlimited radar endorsement. The 32-hour course covers principles, performance standards and operation of ARPA radar and includes recertification for the unlimited radar endorsement Additional information about this program can be obtained by contacting the Maritime Science Center, (503) 325-7962.

STCW GMDSS Training
The U.S. Coast Guard approved 70-hour Global Marine Distress Safety System (GMDSS) course meets the minimum required training for certification as GMDSS operator in accordance with USCG and STCW standards. The course includes principles of communications, GMDSS communications system, GMDSS equipment, distress alerting and operational procedures. The student will operate actual GMDSS equipment with state of the art simulation hardware. Additional information about this program can be obtained by contacting the Maritime Science Center, (503) 325-7962.

Basic Safety Training
The U.S. Coast Guard STCW-95 approved 40-hour Basic Safety Training class includes the following modules; Personal Safety and Social Responsibility; Basic Fire Fighting; personal survival skills and Elementary First Aid. This Class meets the STCW-95 requirements for mariners sailing beyond the boundary line.

Bridge Resource Management
The U.S. Coast Guard STCW-95 approved 24-hour Bridge Resource Management course satisfies the requirements for procedures for bridge team work, as set forth in Title 46 CFR, parts 10.205(3)(0) and Section B-VIII/2 of the STCW code.

 

updated ag July 7, 2008