Due to the government shutdown, the National Maritime Center (NMC) and all Regional Examination Centers (RECs) are closed until further notice. Customer walk-in service at the RECs is suspended. Examinations and other REC appointments are cancelled.

To mitigate the impact caused by the government shutdown, the NMC has implemented the following measures related to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, as amended, for Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMCs) and Medical Certificates:

• MMCs: Pursuant to STCW Article VIII, dispensations may be granted for continued service for mariners operating on endorsements that expired on or after October 1, 2025, provided a renewal application was submitted to the NMC and the employer applied to the Coast Guard for dispensation. STCW dispensations that are approved will expire up to March 31, 2026. Once the STCW dispensation letter is issued, mariners shall carry the letter AND a copy of this bulletin with the MMC. Requests for dispensation must be submitted via e-mail with a subject line “STCW Dispensation” to STCWDispensations@uscg.mil and must include the following information: o The ship name, IMO number, ship tonnage, mariner name, mariner reference number, capacity per STCW regulations, credential issuance and expiration dates, company name, company point of contact, and valid mariner e-mail address.

• Medical Certificates: In accordance with STCW Regulation I/9, when the STCW expiration date of a Medical Certificate occurs during a voyage, the certificate remains valid until the earlier of the next U.S. port of call or 3 months from the expiration date.

• For questions regarding credentialing issues related to National Defense, marine employers are advised to contact NMC’s Customer Service Center.

The Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing has published CG-MMC Policy Letter 02-25 titled Crediting Recent Service of Applicants for National Officer Endorsements.

Under current regulation (46 CFR 11.201(c)(1)), a mariner who has not worked on vessels of the uniformed services must have at least 3 months of qualifying service in the 3 years immediately prior to application for a raise of grade of their credentials.  This policy increases that recency period to 7 years.  This will allow mariners who had taken a short sabbatical from the maritime industry to re-enter the industry and use previously obtained sea service to raise the grade of their credentials without having to re-acquire recent sea service.

This policy letter is available on the Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credentialing policy website.

The Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing has published CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-25 titled Professional Examination for Mariners Raising the Grade of Officer Endorsements from Master Less Than 500 or 1,600 Gross Registered Tons to Third Mate of Unlimited Tonnage.

This policy removes the examination requirement for mariners who hold a national endorsement as Master 500 GRT or Master 1600 GRT who are applying for an endorsement as Third Mate unlimited tonnage on the same route.

Effective November 4, 2024 (in Policy Letter 03-24), the Coast Guard exempts active duty and some selected reserve members of the uniformed services from the fees required for application for a merchant mariner credential. In the past, active duty personnel were not eligible for USCG merchant mariner credentials. That practice was changed and now, as further encouragement to military personnel to become merchant mariners, credential fees have been waived.

August 12, 2024: The National Maritime Center (NMC) has changed the way mariners must submit their credential applications. Instead of emailing applications to the local Regional Examination Centers as has been done in the past, mariners must now submit the applications to this email address: MMCApplications@uscg.mil

Note that the email address is MMC, as in Merchant Mariner Credential, not NMC.

Local Regional Examination Centers will continue to receive and evaluate applications for credentials limited to specific local waters, restricted licenses and First Class Pilot applications.

The notice of these changes includes detailed guidelines for submitting applications. Link to full announcement.

Incorrect, incomplete or expired 1st Aid/CPR Certificates are the second most common reason for delay in credential evaluations. In this announcement issued June 10, 2024, the National Maritime Center details the requirements for 1st Aid/CPR training and its proper documentation for mariners applying for an original license. Note that the 1st Aid/CPR Certificate is ONLY required for an original license. Raises-in-grade and renewals do not need the certification.

Here is the link to the full announcement.