Licensing & Training – Professional Mariner

09 Sep

Coast Guard, Cal State Long Beach extend scholarship program

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingU.S. Coast Guard

(LONG BEACH, Calif.) — The U.S. Coast Guard and California State University Long Beach (CSULB) signed an updated memorandum of agreement Thursday to continue the College Student Pre-Commissioning Initiative (CSPI) scholarship program at the school campus. The agreement outlines the university as a member of the Coast Guard’s Minority-Serving Institution partnership program. CSPI is a program designed for motivated individuals…

28 Aug

Certain service members now exempt from MMC application fees

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingU.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — On Aug. 6, the U.S. Coast Guard published a final rule titled "Exemption for Active-Duty Uniformed Service Members from Merchant Mariner Credentialing Fees." The rule provides for an exemption from the fees associated with an application for a merchant mariner credential (MMC) for active-duty and selected reserve members of the uniformed services. A policy letter implements and provides…

22 Aug

Trouble contacting NMC customer service? Here are a few tips

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingU.S. Coast Guard

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — Contacting the National Maritime Center (NMC) Customer Service Center (CSC) can sometimes be challenging, especially during peak hours. To better assist mariners, the NMC offer several alternatives: • Call early in the morning: The CSC experiences its busiest times around midday. To avoid longer wait times, the NMC recommends calling early in the morning when phone lines…

13 Aug

MMC application process streamlined with centralized email

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingU.S. Coast Guard

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The National Maritime Center (NMC) has established a centralized email inbox for the submission of certain merchant mariner credential (MMC) applications to streamline the process and better manage the receipt and initial processing of incoming applications. Regional exam centers (RECs) will continue to receive and process MMC applications for local limited, restricted, and first class pilot MMCs.…

06 Aug

NMC to temporarily close New York exam center

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingU.S. Coast Guard

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — Regional Exam Center (REC) New York will be closed from Sept. 16 to Sept. 20. Mariner applications may still be emailed to the National Maritime Center (NMC) at MMCApplications@uscg.mil. Mariners seeking to schedule examinations or to submit applications via mail or in person during the temporary closure should consider using another REC. The nearest RECs are Boston,…

25 Jul

New video guides mariners on medical certificate applications

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingU.S. Coast Guard

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — In keeping with its goal to continuously improve its services to mariners, the National Maritime Center (NMC) has posted a video on its website to help guide mariners and reduce incomplete medical certificate application forms. The Video Guide to Filling Out Application Form CG-719K was created to help reduce the need for additional information when processing medical…

19 Jul

Coast Guard terminates illegal charters off Southern California

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingU.S. Coast Guard

(SAN PEDRO, Calif.) — The U.S. Coast Guard terminated the voyages of two illegal charter vessels near Newport Beach and San Pedro earlier this week. A Coast Guard Station Los Angeles-Long Beach small boat crew responded to a 76-foot pleasure craft operating as an illegal charter in Newport Beach with 14 passengers aboard Monday. The crew found the following violations:…

01 Jul

Coast Guard upgrading printed stock for new credentials

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingU.S. Coast Guard

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — On March 1, the U.S. Coast Guard began issuing merchant mariner credentials (MMCs) in a new single-sheet format. This new mariner credential replaced the legacy passport-style red book and associated endorsement labels. Based on processing observations and customer feedback, the stock used for the new MMC is being upgraded to one that is significantly more tear resistant.…

26 Jun

Duplicate emails fueling NMC processing backlog

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & Training

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The National Maritime Center (NMC) is currently experiencing a backlog of medical certificate applications. The NMC recommends that mariners submit their application 90 days in advance of their current medical certificate’s expiration. NMC processing times are currently close to 30 days for complete applications but may be longer for incomplete applications. Processing times at the NMC have…

21 Jun

AMP congratulates 2024 graduates of U.S. maritime academies

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingEducation

(WASHINGTON) —The American Maritime Partnership (AMP), the voice of the domestic maritime industry, congratulates the nearly 1,500 graduates from the seven U.S. maritime academies in 2024. These institutions have equipped the graduates with the skills, knowledge and leadership necessary to excel in the U.S. maritime industry. “Merchant mariners are the backbone of our industry, ensuring the safe and efficient transportation…