AMO Currents - Coast Guard merchant mariner credential update: terminology

AMO Currents - Posted: March 24, 2009

Coast Guard merchant mariner credential update: terminology

The U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center has issued a bulletin regarding terminology and the new merchant mariner credential (MMC), which will combine mariner documents, credentials and endorsements into one passport-style credential. The complete bulletin is available online.

The bulletin notes the terminology used to describe mariners' qualifications will change when the Coast Guard begins issuing the MMC April 15. A mariner's qualifications will be categorized as "domestic" and "international" endorsements, as appropriate. Domestic endorsements will be divided into officer and rating endorsements:

Officer endorsements coincide with the current license and certificate of registry. There are 43 officer endorsements.
Rating endorsements coincide with the merchant mariner document (MMD). There are 17 rating endorsements.
Officer endorsements will be further divided into "Upper Level" and "Lower Level."

International or STCW endorsements coincide with the current STCW certificate. There are 14 international/STCW endorsements.

All endorsements will be listed in terms of capacities and limitations. Specific endorsements are identified in the MMC final rule, which is available online.

Separately, a document of continuity will take the place of renewing a credential for continuity purposes. This single document will incorporate all of the capacities being placed in continuity status. A document of continuity will have no expiration date.

Examples can be found online in the MMC Presentation.