Who is a Marine Chemist? (Source: Rules for the Certification and Recertification of Marine Chemists, Appendix A, Sept. 01, 2021)
Definitions
Section III. Qualifications – Pre-requisite Educational.
The Board considers the pre-requisite educational requirements listed below essential for favorable consideration of any application. The Board may consider other educational or professional achievements as equivalent to any or all of the below listed items, based on information available at the time of its deliberations.
- Each applicant shall have at least a Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university.
- Prior to applying for initial certification as a Marine Chemist, each Applicant must have completed the following college level courses intended for science majors with a final minimum passing grade of 2.0 out of a 4.0 grading scale for each required course:
- Two semesters or three quarters of general chemistry with labs.
- Two semesters or three quarters of organic chemistry with labs.
- Two semesters or three quarters of advanced chemistry with laboratory, such as, analytical chemistry, instrumental analysis, quantitative analysis.
- One course in industrial hygiene sampling and analysis.
Section IV. Qualifications – Professional.
- The education, training, knowledge, and experience of any Applicant shall include, but not be limited to, the following subjects:
- Basic Marine and Shipyard Safety
- Fire Prevention and Emergency Rescue Procedures
- Combustion and Explosion Technology
- Vessel Construction and Structure, including Piping
- Above Ground and Under Ground Storage Tanks in Shipyards
- Entry into Confined Spaces
- Principles of Gas Freeing and Shipboard Test Procedures
- Tank Cleaning Procedures
- Petroleum Chemistry & Testing of Petroleum Products
- The Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene
- Properties of Flammable and Combustible Materials
- Properties of Flammable Cryogenic Liquids
- Properties of Toxic Gases, Vapors, and Fumes
- Properties of Hazardous Cargoes and Materials
- Properties of Fumigants and Fumigant Testing
- Properties of Tank Coatings and Preservatives
- Testing for Toxic Gases, Vapors, Fumes, and Residues
- Properties of Liquefied Natural and Petroleum Gases
- Calibration, Maintenance, and Operational Understanding of Test Instruments
- Procedures for personally determining conditions prior to issuance of a certificate for subsequent work
- Certificate writing including minimum content
- The Applicant shall satisfactorily complete the Marine Chemist training curriculum approved by the Board, in order to substantiate compliance with Section IV. A., above.
- Each Applicant shall complete to the Board's satisfaction an examination on the Standard and applicable United States Coast Guard (USCG) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations, and other technically related or appropriate standards, rules, or regulations, as amended to the date of application.
Section V. Qualifications – Practical Experience.
In addition to the educational qualifications set forth in Section III, each Applicant shall have completed the following:
- Supervised Training.
- Each Applicant, while a trainee, shall have completed at least twelve (12) months of supervised training.
- This training shall be under the direct supervision of at least (3) Marine Chemist trainers. For the purposes of this requirement, a Marine Chemist company or organization may constitute one trainer. Each of these three trainers shall supervise at least forty (40) hours of the Applicant’s shipboard/shipyard training required by Section V.B hereof.
- Each trainee shall have broad experience in shipyard operations, cargoes, fuels, and vessel types as covered by the Standard. The maximum credit for training in any one type of vessel is ninety (90) hours.
- Marine Chemists who have been certificated for less than two (2) years are not eligible to conduct training for credit under these Rules.
- Vessel Inspection and Marine Chemist’s Certificate Training.
- Each trainee shall complete a minimum of 500 hours of supervised training during which the trainee shall participate in the testing, visual inspection and Certificate-writing activity associated with the issuance of not less than two- hundred and fifty (250) Marine Chemist Certificates.
- Associated with the training in Section V.B.1., each trainee shall submit fifty (50) simulated Certificates that have been reviewed by a Marine Chemist Trainer with his or her application.
- Trainees shall keep a record of the supervised training in Section V.B.1 using a form provided by the Marine Field Service.
- Practical Work Experience.
- Each Applicant shall have completed at least three (3) years of full-time employment in marine construction or repair as a shipyard competent person or equivalent, or in another marine industrial environment acceptable to the Board as listed in Section V.C.2.
- The Board may consider the following towards satisfying the requirements for the requirements of paragraph Section V.C.1:
- At least five (5) years of experience as a safety professional within a marine transportation company, US Coast Guard, or US Navy.
- Full-time employment for at least one (1) year in the analysis of physical samples of products that are carried onboard marine vessels as cargo or fuel; or used in the construction and repair of marine vessels. The employment is to be in a laboratory or other similar work environment acceptable to the Board.
- At least one (1) year of experience in tankship operations (e.g., tank cleaning, confined space entry, and hot work repairs). This experience is generally considered to be in the following ratings: Chief Mate, First Assistant Engineer, Chief Engineer or Master on tankships; or other similar employment acceptable to the Board.
- At least one (1) year of experience as a ship-fitter, welder, tank cleaner or other similar employment that is acceptable to the Board.
- The Board considers the above requirements essential for favorable consideration of any application. The Board may consider other educational, training, professional achievements, or industry experience as equivalent to any or all of the above listed items based on information available at the time of its deliberations.
- Each Applicant shall have a working knowledge of the construction of all common types of vessels including hull and superstructure compartmentation systems, machinery spaces, cargo handling systems, and piping systems.