Effective September 18, 2024, the USCG began issuing Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC) with an embedded credential verification scan quick-response (QR) code. Details on how to use the Code are included in the announcement linked here.

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.

MAY 8, 2024: The National Maritime Center has released an expansive description of the requirements for renewing the National Credential. While the “Credential Application Checklist” is the most comprehensive resource for compiling the necessary paperwork, the updated renewal checklist goes into particular detail about the sea service requirements (where they apply) for the various credentials. Here are the details.

April 26, 2024: Policy Letter 01-24 has authorized a “temporary” extension of the grace period for renewal of expired credentials.

The National Maritime Center issued Policy Letter 01-24 today (April 26, 2024) authorizing a “temporary” extension of the administrative grace period for Merchant Mariner Credentialing Transactions. A merchant mariner credential is good for five (5) years. In the past, there was a one-year grace period beyond that five years of validity during which a mariner could renew his or her credential without having to retake the entire examination. That grace period has now been extended to six (6) years beyond the license’s expiration. While within that window a mariner may renew by meeting the standard renewal requirements, including, if the mariner does not have 360 days of service in the five years of the license’s validity, an OPEN book renewal exam.

“Temporary” has not been defined so it is our recommendation that affected mariners whose credentials expired within the last six years take advantage of this option soon. Remember too that the “open book” examination is just that: NMC will send the mariner one or more examinations which can be completed in a library, in a living room, or lathered in sunblock beside a pool.

Do take advantage of this option, and should you need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact us at info@crawfordnautical.org.