5 year Journey to Master 3000 Tons Oceans

HI READERS! ….. a little where’s Waldo? update… what’s a yachty to do when they aren’t traveling onboard a vessel? short answer: MPT.

“MPT” maritime professional training is a maritime technical school and training facility located in downtown Fort Lauderdale serving its students the advancement of maritime licensing and career training. I personally have been a student of MPT since way back in the basic training days of STCW. (STCW is a beginning safety training class required for all crew working onboard yachts.)

Here at MPT they offer state of the art Simulator training, STCW compliant courses, and program packages for long-haul stays. Most course schedules run Monday through Friday 8-4PM ish schedule. There is a laundry list of courses ongoing for both MCA and Coast Guard license routes. The front office administration is up-to-speed on all the latest greatest requirements for all fields of application whether be yachts, oil/drilling, shipping, research ships, or tugs. Additionally, they offer career counseling and assistance with coast guard applications.

I began my career advancement undertaking soon after completing the Master 200 tons license course. I realized there was a whole world of maritime education to explore… as it turns out, theres actually more to it than PALM TREES AND PINA COLADAS (who knew?). I had rediscovered my inner student and there was so much to learn… so with a sparkle in my eye and a spring in my step, I began chipping away at the massive NMC checklists not exactly knowing where it would take me. (All ladders climb upwards?!)

I’d enroll in classes here and there, whenever I had a stint of downtime between yacht trips, or if my schedule aligned with the next-needed course on my list. This slow process took me a whopping 5 years (including a “quarter-life retirement” roadtrip hiatus, circa 2020-2021) to complete the OICNW OFFICER IN CHARGE OF NAVIGATIONAL WATCH. (It is equivalent to a 4-year process at any maritime academy).

Finally, The Grand Finale of the OICNW presents as the Master 1600 ton Exams proctored at the Coast Guard Rec. Center in Downtown Miami. This exam was to cover all the material I’d been slowing working my way through over the years- and it was a doozy. My study-buddies and I spent over 2 months meeting hours upon hours daily at the local library or coffee shops rehearsing sample exams provided by LAPWARE and THE PRACTICAL NAVIGATOR… quizzing each other, plotting courses, using memory aids, and pouring over mountains of resource material. We ate, slept, and talked EXAMS. Let me tell you on test day I was so dang sick of the test material that I wasn’t even nervous. (Just Kidding OF COURSE I WAS NERVOUS) In retrospect, we’d all look back at this and realize it was the most effort we’d ever worked at anything in our lives! But you all know how this ends, and yes we each NAILED THE FINAL.

And so what’s a girl to do with her newfound success? Get right back after it, thats what. Yup, January 2024 I dedicate a full season off work to spend my time riding the career training wave as far as it can take me. I take the jump right into my MASTER 3000 GT and decide to hammer down for 5 more months of course training. And the rest is history. I navigate a land desk at MPT through May with my last course being the 3-week long notorious CELESTIAL NAVIGATION / OCEANS SAILING COURSE. Can you spell spherical trigonometry…

Today this hawsepiper graduates from MPT university as Master 3000 upon oceans!

Reflecting on a long journey in my career training- and yet there is still so much to learn. A special thank you to the instructors and colleagues who continually show up to coach and encourage each other. Teaching adult students is no easy feat, and returning to an academic environment as an adult student can be extremely humbling.

Always shoot for the stars, Take on new challenges, and Be your own inspiration!! (..me, high on spherical trigonometry)🤓✨ ☀️ 🌙 

Much love to my fellow mariners, friends, family who continue to support me in my travel dreams and career goals. 

I think the saying goes…wind on your back, sun on your face, glaciers on your chart plotters..