seamanship

JOB CORPS’ SEAMANSHIP PROGRAM IS A MARITIME TRAINING PROGRAM OFFERED BY INLAND BOATMEN'S UNION (IBU)

OVERVIEW

The Job Corps Seamanship Training Center is located on the campus of Tongue Point Job Corps Center in Astoria, Oregon, near the mouth of the Columbia River.  Founded in 1980, it’s administered by the U.S. Department of Labor Office of Job Corps as it’s only maritime training facility, and is operated by the Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific in conjunction with Management & Training Corporation.  The Director of Seamanship is Captain Len R. Tumbarello, USCG (retired).  He served in the U. S. Coast Guard for 28 years and began his tenure as Director in June 2013.  

Student entry requirements are established by U. S. Department of Labor regulations and U. S. Code of Federal Regulations for the issuance of U. S. Merchant Mariner Documents.  Cadets must be at least 17 ½ years of age upon entry into the program and must obtain a Transportation Workers Identification Credential to establish eligibility for U. S. Coast Guard documentation.  Additionally, the student must interview with a regional office of the Inlandboatmen’s Union for an appointment to the training center. The duration of the program varies from 18 to 24 months, depending on the cadet’s personal progress and choice of U. S. Coast Guard certifications.  

Job Corps regulations mandate that the training is open entry and open exit for cadets, so there is a continuous rotation of cadets joining and departing the program.   We typically have approximately 120 cadets at any time, and the program graduates an average of 65 cadets per year.  We’re very proud of our well-documented 90%+ program completion and job placement rates.

Upon completion, cadets will be qualified for the endorsements of:  

• Able Seaman (Limited) with Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch 

• Qualified Member of the Engine Department-Junior Engineer with Ratings Forming Part of an Engineering Watch

• Proficiency in Survival Craft/Lifeboatman

• Basic Shipboard Safety Training (Basic shipboard fire-fighting, first aid, personal safety and social responsibilities, and personal survival skills-STCW-BT)

• HAZWOPER (Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response)

• Steward (Galley)

• Vessel Personnel Designated Security Duties

The training program maintains course approvals issued by the U. S. Coast Guard which meet the requirements of the International Maritime Organization’s Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW BT) and U. S. Coast Guard training regulations.  Training is carried out in compliance with the Job Corps Policy Requirements Handbook which mandates hands-on, performance-based instruction and assessment. Training time is split approximately 65% shipboard hands-on training and 35% classroom instruction, with an emphasis on underway training.   During underway training, students perform all of the duties required of the relevant endorsement sought, and are continually guided and assessed by our Engineering and Deck instructors.  Cadets are responsible for the operation and maintenance of all training vessels, shoreside facilities, and associated equipment as part of their training.   

The Seamanship Training Center is equipped with training vessels, equipment, facilities and a $1.4 million annual budget to provide quality training to equip our cadets to be successful and knowledgeable U. S.  Coast Guard credentialed Merchant Mariners.  Our training vessels are regularly used for underway training exercises, exposing cadets to real world training scenarios.  We have a shoreside classroom facilities and training annex, a 1000 ft pier, and a complete 30-person gravity davit lifeboat trainer, as well as the following training vessels:

1. IRONWOOD (80 Years Old)—Retired Coast Guard ‘C’ class buoy tender.  A 180 ft X 37 ft, 743 gross ton, seagoing training ship.  Completely maintained and operated to the same standards previously held by the U. S. Coast Guard.

2. COLUMBIA (43 Years Old)---Retired Columbia River Bar Pilot vessel, 82 ft X 23 ft.

3. TP EAGLE---a 110 ft X 32 ft training barge.  Equipped with engineering classrooms, staff offices, and engineering work shops.

4. Rigid hull inflatable rescue boat—ex-U. S. Coast Guard 24 ft, 175 hp rescue boat.  

The Department of Labor and U. S. Coast Guard policies for instructors require assessment and approval of instructor qualifications, approval of course curriculum, instruction procedures, and the establishment of quality standards to ensure oversight and ongoing assessment of the training.  Frequent audits of the training center by the Department of Labor and U. S. Coast Guard ensure continuous compliance.  

In addition to the training curriculum, each cadet is required to participate in an internship with a maritime organization as part of a ship’s crew.  These internships are typically 30 days in length and allow cadets to experience “real world” on-the-job training.  Currently, the Seamanship program has over 30 internship agreements with various maritime industry entities.  Our vision is to have internships in every segment of the Maritime Industry throughout the U.S. 

We recognize that in addition to learning essential Deck and Engineering hard-skills, our cadets need to be held to very high performance/behavior standards to develop and hone their soft-skills.  These skills include:

Communications

Attention to Detail

Timeliness

Self-Discipline

Information Management

Career & Personal Planning

Independent Living

Continuous Learning

Workplace Relationships & Ethics

Problem/Solving

Critical Thinking

Personal Growth & Development

Interpersonal Skills

Career Readiness

Attendance & Dress

Personal/Crew Safety

Multicultural Awareness

Risk Management

The Seamanship Training Program at the Tongue Point Job Corps Center is a popular and successful program which currently places 95.5% of our graduates in the maritime industry.  These cadets are expected to adhere to the Seamanship Program’s “watch words” of Proficiency in craft, taking care of People, Professionalism at all times and Passion for the job.  As this program is fully funded by the U. S. Department of Labor, cadets are able to attend the training program at no cost while living on campus. This includes complete residential living, health and wellness facilities, recreational and physical fitness programs, and academic educational programs, as well as the Seamanship Training Program.  

The Seamanship Training Program at Tongue Point offers an exceptional opportunity for young men and women to prepare and ultimately begin their successful careers working as U. S. Coast Guard credentialed Merchant Mariners. 

SEAMANSHIP NUMBERS TO KNOW

$60,000 National average Earning potential for this career

Average Entry Wage: Apprentice Entry level $22.00 to $35.00 per hour.