Rolls-Royce has begun designing automated bulk carrier vessels that it hopes to have on the water within 15 years, drawing apprehension and skepticism from many in the maritime industry.The question of automated transport is not a new one – many metro systems around the world use automated trains to transport passengers throughout large cities; in fact, in the last few years, the New York City subway system has added automated trains to their fleet as well. What’s more, the International...

A charter boat captain’s (master’s) license issued by the USCG’s National Maritime Center (NMC) is required in the recreational marine industry in order to carry paying customers. There are several types of licenses applicable to charter boat captains; the type of credential you select depends upon the size of your vessel and the area where you will be voyaging. Read on for benefits of obtaining your credentials and how to become a charter boat captain.Benefits of Becoming a Charter Boat...

Voyage planning, also referred to as passage planning, is the detailed procedure of laying out a vessel’s voyage from start to finish. The steps and protocols for voyage planning are explained in the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) RESOLUTION A.893(21), Guidelines for Voyage Planning.Proper planning and navigation is crucial to accident avoidance. In fact, 80 percent of maritime accidents are the result of errors made by those in charge of navigation, according to SOLAS ANNEX 24:...

All Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) applicants who are Officers or Mariners with a qualified rating are required to submit a Merchant Mariner Credential Medical Evaluation Report (CG-719K) along with their applications.The form must be filled out in its entirety before submission. The National Maritime Center (NMC) explains that applicants who have certain medical issues should make sure that the doctor addresses the condition in accordance with NVIC 04-08. “Incomplete applications, missing...