Who we are:
The Master of Towing Vessels Association
(MTVA) represents the interests of U.S.
Coast Guard-licensed masters, mates and
pilots of towing vessels (Oceans, Near
Coastal, Great Lakes/Inland & Western
Rivers), with a focus on safety issues,
licensing and certification, training, and
professional qualifications standards.
Obtaining these licenses has become
increasingly difficult in recent years and
the pool of new recruits into the industry
has become almost non-existent. Many of
the existing Baby Boomer-generation
captains and mates have been and will be
retiring in a large wave over the next
decade or so. In their wake will disappear
a valuable and irreplaceable source of
towing knowledge that cannot be learned
in the classroom or properly taught and
accounted for using the existing Towing
Officers Assessment Record (TOAR)
system. Now more than ever, our voice
needs to be heard by the regulators,
legislators, and the industry at large. If you
hold a license as Master, Mate or Pilot of
Towing Vessels, and think that working
mariners have been ignored for far too
long, please consider joining us..
The goals of the Association are to:
1. Make the occupation more attractive to
mariners presently in the industry,
thereby improving retention.

2. Share information on the current
environment of the towing industry, as
well as its licensing, manning, and
general regulatory issues.

3. Make sure regulatory decisions
affecting our industry are no longer made
without any regard for the working
mariner’s concerns by engaging with
Congress, the Coast Guard, and the
industry whenever necessary.

4. Retain, preserve and pass on the
traditional practices and skills of the
towing industry from those veteran
captains and mates who will soon be
retiring with their decades of hard-earned
practical experience.

5. Make the TOAR training system more
user-friendly and appealing to new
recruits into our industry.
Master of Towing Vessels Association                                     
"Advocate of the Tug Boat Captain"
Click here to see the VTS recording
of the Mel Oliver

Fire and Sinking onboard  the  Fish
Processor "GALAXY" in the  Bering
Sea Some very good lessons on how
anything that can go wrong will.

Sinking of the Tug "VALOUR"
If you have ever towed offshore in tough
weather you can relate to this USCG
Report on how the loss of life and the
sinking of this tug developed from an open
crossover valve to other fatal problems.
Beyond the tragedy involved two important
points are also made.
1.   The second Mate "still considered
himself a "rookie" despite his
extensive seatime and holding a
master's license for over two years".
2.    46 CFR 15.405" requires "each
licensed individual to become familiar
with the relevant characteristics of the
vessel on which engaged prior to
assuming the duties: to assume
stability and loading characteristics".
The captains "lack of specific
knowledge of the tug "VALOUR"
violates regulation 46 CFR 15.405".  In
this case the captain is facing charges of
negligence, misconduct and violation
of law largely for not knowing more about
the vessel.


"30 Day Wonder" passes
USCG to become a Final Rule.
This Ruling represents a 95.8% reduction
in the current days required "onboard" a
towing vessel to receive the "Mate of
Towing" License. Despite the opinion of
nearly every Tug Captain in the United
States this looks like the new Regulation.
Click here to see the Final Rule    


From www.tugboatlife.com,
Wheelhouse forum, TOAR VS TRAINING
IBU VS SIU.
" You need to complete a TOAR. There
are only a few programs approved to
substitute for a TOAR, they are programs
operated by tug companies and are done
onboard. There is no "course" ashore you
can take instead of the TOAR. The
approved programs are just company
variations on the TOAR, with the same or
similar demonstrations required.
.....you probably will not get your TOAR
signed by a conscientious DE in only 30
days. Unlike STCW assessments, the sign
off in the TOAR isn't a simple assessment,
it's the DE indicating they found you
competent after a period of observation.
While you might find someone who will sign
off in 30 days or less, most DEs who will
have you working as their Mate, will take
longer."
James D. Cavo
Chief, Mariner Training
and Assessment
USCG National Maritime Center
James.D.Cavo@uscg.mil
HONOR ROLL
THE LEADER IN STRENGTH

USCG says "farewell" to tradition.

We are sorry to see the USCG has accidentally
done away with the USCG Merchant Marine
Officer License, saying have yerself a "passport
style booklet" instead. We say accident because
that is how it will be regarded in history. While the
MTVA was all for condensing and simplifying
credentials we were also assured that the
frameable license would always be an available
option. Despite overwhelming comments on the
record from all corners of the sea, the comments
were shockingly disregarded. We will be printing
an nonofficial  frameable  Master of  Towing
Vessels License to replace the traditional USCG
version.