>>1090400>>1090653I'm waiting on an AB Special; it's all I qualify for with my sea time and tonnage. Unfortunately, I don't really know how the "tiers" of AB differ other than sea service requirements.
I *have* seen companies/unions say things like "limited or unlimited preferred," which sucks, but I'm hoping that for most companies an AB is an AB, whether it's special, limited, or unlimited.
I believe lifeboatman is required for any AB. I think, for that reason, schools often offer their lifeboatman and AB courses back-to-back to make it easier to knock them both out. As for RFPNW... I don't think it's required to get an AB (I mean, I don't have it), but it does seem to be important at some companies. Thing is, I think you have to have documented watchstanding experience to take the course. I'd like to get my RFPNW but I'm not sure if my experience is valid or not.
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http://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/NMC/pdfs/checklists/mcp_fm_nmc5_53_web.pdf?ver=2017-05-31-143631-387 