Each year, hypothermia claims the lives of 800 recreational boaters, commercial fisherman and merchant mariners in the United States, reports Hypothermia.org. It’s essential for captains and crewmembers to exercise precaution and follow basic safety protocols when travelling through cold waters to preempt hypothermia-related injuries and fatalities.Hypothermia BasicsHypothermia occurs when body temperature drops below 95 degrees; in severe cases, core temperature can drop even lower. When the...

Waterway speed limits stir up a lot of controversy, and those on both sides of the argument feel passionately about their stance: some are gung-ho for speed limit regulations, citing safety as the reasoning; while others adamantly oppose waterway speed limits out of financial and business concerns. Both sides may have a point, but the latter seems to be winning out, at least in Florida.Speed Limit Controversy in Naples, FloridaIn current news, city officials in Naples, Florida have been at odds...

The z-card is a type of credential that the U.S. Coast Guard issues to qualified crew members of U.S. ships weighing more than 100 gross tons. Z-cards are similar to driver’s licenses; they contain the mariner’s basic information such as date of birth, the location where the card was issued, the mariner's nationality, and the shipboard duties and roles for which he or she is qualified.Changes in Z-Card RequirementsZ-cards were first adopted in the late 1970s as a part of the International...

To become a merchant marine, you must abide by the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center’s (NMC) credential application process. It can be somewhat of an arduous process, but becoming a merchant marine means taking a step toward entering one of the most dynamic, rewarding careers in existence.Understanding Merchant Mariner CredentialsThose who follow the credential application process and become part of the merchant marines are called mariners or sailors. All mariners on U.S. merchant...