If there’s anything Capt. Guy Sorensen’s learned in his decades of working with professional mariners it’s that they learn in a variety of ways, times and places.
They have to. After spending weeks and months at sea, that precious homeport time can be hard to fill up with training. “That’s why we launched our home study programs,” said Sorensen, who founded the Virginia-based Chesapeake Marine Training Institute in 1992 following a career in the U.S. Coast Guard. “It’s important to us to accommodate all students and offer them a high quality education, whether they study at home or in a classroom.” Sorensen offers several home study programs with various options, mainly to prepare deck officers and engineers.
The 500/1600 Master/Mate Inland or Near Coastal program prepares mariners to earn their license as a deck officer serving as Master or Mate on vessels not exceeding 500 or 1600 gross registered tons and operating within inland or near coastal waters. Students who purchase this deck officer home study program receive one week of exam preparation at the Chesapeake Marine Training Institute campus in Virginia.
The Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) courses are available with one endorsement, all endorsements, Chief Engineer, Assistant Engineer and Designated Duty Engineer. Once students complete their home study program, they must take their test at a U.S. Coast Guard Regional Examination Center.