Richard Plant graduated on April 18, 1967, early because of Viet Nam, from SUNY Maritime College at Fort Schuyler. Richard sailed on the Berea Victory to Viet Nam, then on Break Bulk vessels with Grace Lines, SS Brazil, a passenger vessel with Moore McCormack Lines, then container vessels with Sealand and finally on tankers. This was done because Richard felt a desire to become an instructor.
Richard has over 27.5 years of teaching experience in the maritime industry. Richard began his teaching career by spending 3 years at Texas Maritime Academy in Galveston, Texas and in charge of training and scheduling of Deck Cadets for Training, Watch Keeping and Maintenance during summer cruises. The next 24.5 years at MITAGS – the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots (IOMM&P) world class Conference / Training Facility, located in Linthicum Heights, Maryland. Richard earned his reputation by developing and teaching numerous courses at MITAGS. Richard held an Unlimited Chief Mate License – AGT – 8th issue of his license, now in continuity.
Richard is also known for his 1975 editions of “The Multiple Choice Study Guides for 3rd and 2nd Mates” and “The Multiple Choice Study Guides for Chief Mates and Masters”. Richard James and Richard Plant developed these books to give the mariners an introduction to the types of multiple choice questions mariners might experience on the NEW National Maritime Center (NMC) license exams. Both editions were published by Cornell Maritime Press, and stopped being published in the late 1980’s, once the NMC made available to the public, under the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), the actual USCG questions utilized for all levels of license exams. Richard also published, through Cornell Maritime Press, now Schiffer Publishing, Inc., “The Formulae For The Mariner”, which is still available today. Richard brought together both his knowledge and skill in teaching and computer programming, utilizing initially Access 97 and Microsoft Office 2003, to create a sample database program from which LAPWARE was developed.
But Richard Plant could not do it alone! Richard needed someone with present knowledge of the NMC database of exam questions and how to categorize questions for up to four levels. Richard turned to the most knowledgeable person in the industry, Captain Joseph Murphy from Massachusetts Maritime Academy, author of the Deck Guide Books, or “Murphy Books”. This was a key partnership which made LAPWARE so successful. The neatest part was that Richard created SOLUTIONS for all major math problems so mariners can view a proper solution and find out where they made any mistakes. Users learned from their mistakes and would not make them again. Many of the NMC Exam Codes, for ALL RATINGS are available in LAPWARE (EXCEPT for MODUs).
The partnership was created in 2001 developing LAPWARE, LLC. The Deck program went live on the Internet in April 2002. MITAGS was our test base for modifications and improvements needed. Eventually, all state and federal maritime academies, most major maritime labor organizations, a few small mom-and-pop training schools, as well as larger ones, a few Community Colleges, and many thousands, if not tens of thousands, of mariners have purchased LAPWARE licenses on a monthly basis to prepare for their credential exams. In March 2010, LAPWARE ENGINE was introduced.
LAPWARE has been a leader in working with the National Maritime Center to encourage them, and the USCG, to repost the questions database taken down in July 2010, and reposted in September 2012, September 2013 with updates in February 2014 (posting of illustrations) and May 2014 (posting of Electricity updates). The NMC posted illustrations for Deck and Engineers on the NMC website for which Richard Block (NAME – National Association of Maritime Educators) and Richard Plant have been acknowledged by Captain Jeff Novotny, Head of the NMC, for their actions, as posted on the NMC Website.
Starting in March 2014, Richard Plant introduced new pdf files which consisted of Reference files used in the Exam Room, in hard copy, so that one does NOT have to carry around a foot-locker of manuals. These pdf reference files cover Stability, Rules of the Road, HO 102, 33-46-49 CFRs (ALL VOLUMES in one PDF file for each CFR and fully linked), IALA and many other areas for Deck Officers. At present, there are 87 files available.
This original 2002 website ONLY allowed Windows operating computers having Internet Access to purchase, download and view the files. In 2014-2015 over $45,000 was paid by Joe Murphy and Richard Plant to update LAPWARE to the HTML 5 program language, thus allowing ALL devices to access LAPWARE (NO devices have been reported yet that does NOT run LAPWARE). The “Ship Stability by LAPWARE – Version 3.05″ is presently available to all users purchasing LAPWARE. All competitors presently (July 2025) run ONLY on Windows and require a Flash Drive, in most cases. LAPWARE, on the internet, can be updated very easily, even daily, as needed, and as information is provided to LAPWARE on new or modified questions.
Richard, since retiring on December 31, 2010 from MM&P, has been very actively involved in working on LAPWARE (Deck), as well as guiding the LAPWARE programmers to make improvements to the programs to keep it as the best credential preparation program on the market.
In 2014, Richard at the MERPAC Committee meeting held at NMC Head Quarters, Martinsburg, WV, was recognized, by the ex-head of the Deck Questions (Cathy Mauro), as being the one person who has provided MORE feedback to the NMC on both deck and engine questions than ALL others combined, asking the NMC to correct or clean up not only the questions, answer, illustrations, or solutions. Richard was involved in the development with the Rules of the Road 2014 Handbook which is ever evolving as wording changes or regulations are modified or new regs created.
In January 2022 Captain Joe Murphy retired from LAPWARE and was bought out by Richard.
In April 2024, LAPWARE Engine was shutdown. It was just too much (Deck and Engine) to maintain so it was deleted from being accessed.
For over 4 years, from 2020 to 2024, Richard has encouraged the NMC to correct many improperly developed Approval Letters that had NMC errors. Richard requested that, because the error was NMC’s fault, the mariner should receive a NEW DATED LETTER and not a letter with its original date. Give the mariner a FUILL 360 days to study for their credential exams. On April 4-5, 2024, at the N-MERPAC committee meeting held at the USCG Headquarters, DC, announced that the NMC will issue new dates on Approval Letters if the errors were caused by the NMC. A true victory for Richard Plant and for the Maritime Industry.
Richard has gained the reputation of not only telling the N-MERPAC committee, the USCG/NMC and general public of errors found in various areas, including the 46 CFR 11.910 Deck credentials table of requirements, by NOT only stating the errors but also providing PROOF (handouts) showing the errors. Richard has been, for many years, the ONLY representative from any one producing credentialing programing software to aid mariners in their credential examination preparation. This is a key point in knowing who the players are. Brandon Brown will continue with this process.
In late mid-2024, LAPWARE was put up for sale. On December 5, 2024 Richard was diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer. Brandon Brown took over LAPWARE on July 15, 2025. I feel that he is a very bright individual and is very excited about the future opportunities of running LAPWARE. Brandon will bring some new ideas to LAPWARE and make it run even more efficiently. I welcome Brandon Brown aboard with LAPWARE and will be working with him for as long as I can, familiarizing him with the program capabilities. I know you all will enjoy working with Brandon Brown.
For MANY years we have been using Tripod Enterprises for our programming and maintenance of our GoDaddy servers and our LAPWARE program. Brett Schlenski and Ed Croft have been second to no other in getting all of LAPWARE requested changes put into LAPWARE to make it a better and more user friendly program. THANK YOU Brett and Ed for a job well done.
I wish ALL of users and schools many thanks for 24.5 years of buying LAPWARE to help get thousands of mariners credentialed for the U.S. Maritime Industry. I have truly enjoyed working with all of you and wish all mariners safe sailing and following seas.
With kindest regards,
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Richard Plant