Explain what a marine chemist is please and what is their salary scale and how much schooling do you need to be one?

A marine chemist is a person who holds a valid

certificate issued by the National Fire Protection Association in

accordance with the "Rules for the Certification and

Recertification of Marine Chemists" establishing the holder as a

person qualified to determine whether construction, alteration,

repair, lay-up, or shipbreaking of vessels can be undertaken with

safety. They inspect vessels, they are not chemical oceanographers.

There is extensive college curriculum, module training, chemistry

and shipyard experience, an apprenticeship and board review

required to obtain a certificate. Recertification is required every

five years. There are only about 90 marine chemists in the US and

they are required for many vessel inspections, which probably

correlates with a very comfy salary.

In order to obtain a marine chemist certificate you

must have the following qualifications met (Rules for the

Certification and Recertification of Marine Chemists --

1/1/2007):

II. QUALIFICATIONS --- General A. Applicants shall

be of good character, and physically able to perform the duties of

a Marine Chemist.

B. Applicants for Certification shall be citizens

of the United States. Under special or unusual circumstances, and

after consultation with the President of the NFPA, the Board may

consider foreign nationals for Certification.

C. Applicants shall furnish the Board with such

evidence of their training as the Board considers necessary or

advisable, as set forth in published Rules therefore.

D. Each applicant and trainee shall affirm in

writing an intention and ability to practice actively as a Marine

Chemist.

E. Each applicant shall use only the Standard

Marine Chemist certificate form as approved and presented in the

Standard when acting as a Marine Chemist applying the Standard.

F. Each Marine Chemist shall perform all work in

accordance with the requirements of the Standard and its official

interpretations when acting as a Marine Chemist.

G. Each applicant shall indicate an understanding

of and intention to comply with these Rules by signing a copy of

these Rules as presented at the time of Certification and

Recertification, or at such times as these Rules change.

III. QUALIFICATIONS --- Professional

The Board considers the professional requirements

listed below essential for favorable consideration of any

application. The Board may consider other professional achievements

as equivalent to any or all of the below listed items based on

information available at the time of its deliberations.

A. Each applicant shall have at least a Bachelor's

Degree from an accredited college or university. Work shall include

the following college level courses intended for science

majors:

1. Two semesters or three quarters of general

inorganic chemistry with labs.

2. Two semesters or three quarters of organic

chemistry with labs.

3. One course in an analytical method with lab.

4. One course in industrial hygiene sampling and

analysis.

B. The education, training, knowledge, and

experience of any Marine Chemist applicant shall include, but not

be limited to, the following subjects:

1. Basic Marine and Shipyard Safety

2. Fire Prevention and Emergency Rescue

Procedures

3. Combustion and Explosion Technology

4. Entry into Confined Spaces

5. Principles of Gas Freeing and Shipboard Test

Procedures

6. Tank Cleaning Procedures

7. Petroleum Chemistry & Testing of Petroleum

Products

8. The Fundamentals of Industrial Hygiene

9. Properties of Flammable and Combustible

Materials

10. Properties of Toxic Gases, Vapors, and

Fumes

11. Properties of Hazardous Cargoes and

Materials

12. Properties of Fumigants and Fumigant

Testing

13. Properties of Tank Coatings and

Preservatives

14. Testing for Toxic Gases, Vapors, Fumes, and

Residues

15. Properties of Liquefied Natural and Petroleum

Gases

16. Test Instruments and Calibration thereof.

17. Procedures for personally determining

conditions prior to issuance of a certificate for subsequent

work

18. Certificate writing including minimum

content

C. The Applicant shall satisfactorily complete the

then current approved Marine Chemist training curriculum in order

to substantiate compliance with III. B. above.

D. Each applicant shall complete to the Board's

satisfaction an examination on the Standard and applicable United

States Coast Guard (USCG) and Occupational Safety and Health

Administration (OSHA) regulations, as amended to the date of

application, and on any other technically related or appropriate

standards, rules, or regulations considered necessary by the

Board.

IV. QUALIFICATIONS --- Practical

In addition to the professional qualifications set

forth in the preceding section:

A. Each applicant shall have completed at least six

(6) months of supervised training in all tests and inspections

required prior to the issuance of a Marine Chemist's Certificate as

required by the Standard. At least three (3) Marine Chemists shall

directly supervise this training. The three (3) training

supervisors shall not be from the same company or organization.

Each shall supervise at least forty (40) hours of the applicant's

shipboard training required by Section IV.B. hereof. All trainers

shall have been certified as a Marine Chemist for at least two (2)

years.

B. Each applicant shall have not less than three

hundred (300) hours of supervised training aboard a variety of

types of both ocean-going and inland vessels as covered by the

Standard. The maximum credit for training in any one type of vessel

is ninety (90) hours. In order for credit to be given, however,

training in any one type of vessel shall exceed a minimum of thirty

(30) hours.

C. In addition to the above, each applicant shall

have completed at least three years experience, as follows:

1. One year or more full-time employment in the

analysis of physical samples similar to those routinely analyzed by

Marine Chemists. This employment is to be in a laboratory or other

similar work environment acceptable to the Board.

2. The remaining time, but not less than one year,

must be in full time employment in marine construction or repair,

or in another marine industrial environment, acceptable to the

Board.

D. Each applicant shall have a working knowledge of

the construction of all common types of vessels including hull and

superstructure compartmentation systems, machinery spaces, cargo

handling systems, and piping systems.

E. The Board considers the above practical

requirements essential for favorable consideration of any

application. The Board may consider other professional achievements

as equivalent to any or all of the above listed items based on

information available at the time of its deliberations.