It's no secret that watercraft is difficult to operate.
Small boats, with their rapid rates of response and huge horsepower under the
hood, can become water-borne missiles capable of doing a serious amount of
damage in the wrong hands. Similarly, large watercraft can be dangerous or even
deadly due to the complexities of the equipment and the power of the engine.
Further complicating matters is the concept of navigation. Waterways rarely
have signposts marking the path, so people who operate vessels must know how to
get from Point A to Point B on their own, without the help of others. According
to Joshua Kerrigan, an experienced captain, licenses help operators demonstrate
their expertise to Coast Guard officials.
Currently, Joshua Kerrigan is studying in
order to upgrade his captain's license to the 500-ton ocean master's level this
fall. This would allow him to stand at the helm of very large watercraft as it
heads out into the open sea. Obtaining a license like this means racking up a
specific amount of supervised hours behind the helm of a specific type of
craft, and passing tests of knowledge about operating a vessel like this. It's
a significant amount of work, but it's well worth the effort, according to
Joshua Kerrigan, as it will allow him to better serve his clients without
running afoul of the law.
It's common for people to boost their licenses in this way,
Joshua Kerrigan says, as many people who operate watercraft enjoy the
challenges of operating ever larger vessels in ever more challenging
environments. People like to push their knowledge and allow their expertise to
grow, and Joshua Kerrigan is no exception. It's hard to know where he might go
when this license is complete, however, as this is one of the most advanced
licenses available to captains today.
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