A tankerman is a mariner credential issued by the Coast Guard to qualified members of the deck department who are trained to assist or supervise the transfer of liquid cargo. Tankerman is an unlicensed national rating that operates under officer supervision.There is a general process to obtain your tankerman certification with a set of specific requirements that you must meet.The General Process of Obtaining Your Tankerman CertificateThe U.S. Coast Guard, the overseer of all Merchant Marine...

An able seaman (AB) is an entry-level rank in the Merchant Marines. This is usually the minimum requirement to work on most vessels, save the apprenticeship position of an ordinary seaman (OS).The application process if fairly straightforward, but somewhat time consuming; there are numerous documents to compile and minimum requirements you’ll have to meet in order to obtain your seaman certificate/endorsement. It’s essential to know exactly what documents are required so that you can submit a...

If you’re a maritime worker who needs unescorted access to secure ports, you are required by law to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) card. It’s simple to apply for a TWIC card, and the application fee is minimal, especially when compared to the negative repercussions that can be enforced if you are found without a TWIC.What is a TWIC card and who needs one?Congress established TWIC regulations in 2007 in order to enhance security in maritime transportation. The...

This week, Secretary of the Interior, Sally Jewell, and Bureau of Ocean Energy Management Acting Director, Walter Cruickshank, announced that the first three oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico boundary area have been awarded, subject to the United States-Mexico Transboundary Hydrocarbons Agreement.Part of President Obama’s strategy to expand safe, responsible domestic energy production, the Transboundary Agreement takes away the uncertainty of the development of Gulf of Mexico...