AMO Currents - U.S. Coast Guard final rule on 'merchant mariner credential' takes effect April 15

AMO Currents - Posted: March 19, 2009

U.S. Coast Guard final rule on 'merchant mariner credential' takes effect April 15

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued a final rulemaking on the new "merchant mariner credential," which will combine the license, merchant mariner document, STCW endorsement and certificate of registry (if applicable) into one passport-style document.

The final rule takes effect April 15, 2009. The complete text of the rulemaking as published in the Federal Register is available online at: http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/E9-5436.htm.

In a recent bulletin, National Maritime Center Commanding Officer Capt. David Stalfort said: "Over the next few weeks, the Coast Guard will be issuing a number of information bulletins, which will provide details on how the new regulations will be implemented and the changes mariners can expect to see in the credential application process and the actual credentials." The complete bulletin is available online on the Coast Guard Web site.

The "merchant mariner credential," or MMC, will essentially be phased in over a five-year period beginning on the effective date of April 15. When a mariner applies for the renewal and issuance of an MMC, there are three possible scenarios for those holding multiple documents:

For mariners who have synchronized the expiration dates on multiple documents (MMD, License, STCW, etc.), the new MMC will cover all documents and be effective for the full five years.
Mariners who have not synchronized the expiration dates may do so when applying for the new MMC.
If a mariner chooses not to synchronize expiration dates when applying for the MMC, all documents with their original expiration dates will be included in the MMC, but subsequently expiring documents must be updated on the MMC by application, and the basic MMC expiration date will not change – thus, five years after initial issue of the MMC, all documents will expire and will automatically be synchronized when renewed.

All mariners applying for an MMC must have a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential. The Coast Guard will be using data from the TWIC application process with the Transportation Security Administration in processing MMC applications.

Since the TSA will be supplying the fingerprints, photograph, proof of citizenship, background check and other information to the Coast Guard, mariners will not need to travel to a regional examination center to apply for an MMC. Mariners will be able to submit applications for an MMC by mail. Additionally, the final rule will allow new applicants for a merchant mariner document, license or endorsement to have their oath for the MMC notarized and to submit the oath by mail, which will allow the process to be conducted entirely by mail with no visits to a regional examination center required.

Written examinations will still occur at RECs, and the RECs will remain accessible to mariners should they choose to seek their services in person.

More information about the MMC final rule will be published in upcoming editions of American Maritime Officer and on AMO Currents.