Know the Rule Before You Make Your Case

“I know a guy who got approved.”

You hear that around the waterfront. But somebody else’s experience won’t tell you exactly what applies to your application.

Here’s my own sea story.

I once questioned the National Maritime Center about a tankerman renewal requirement. I had read the regulation and cited the section supporting my position.

The response was that my reading wasn’t the intent of the regulation.

My position was simple: Here is what the regulation says. Explain why it doesn’t apply to my situation.

We didn’t resolve it, and my position was rejected. So I took the question to the next person up the line.

He read the rule, looked at the issue, and essentially asked, “What’s the problem?”

That experience stayed with me. Reading the regulation gave me something solid to bring to the discussion—and a reason to request another review.

Before you spend money on training or submit an application:

• Find the current NMC checklist for your endorsement.
• Read the regulations it references.
• Match the requirements to your documented service.
• Write down the specific questions you need answered.

If an answer doesn’t make sense, ask which provision supports it. Listen carefully—you may have overlooked something. But if the explanation still doesn’t match the wording, politely ask for a supervisor’s review.

You don’t have to know every regulation. You should understand the ones your next credential depends on.

Listen to the sea stories. Then do your own homework—including checking mine.

—Capt. Mike
Mariners Online