Bill calls for Coast Guard to modernize merchant mariner credentialing exam
14 May

Bill calls for Coast Guard to modernize merchant mariner credentialing exam

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & Training,
(WASHINGTON) — This week, U.S. Reps. Salud Carbajal, D-Calif., and Mike Ezell, R-Miss., introduced the Mariner Exam Modernization Act, which directs the U.S. Coast Guard to develop and implement a plan to modernize the merchant mariner credentialing exam, aiming to eliminate redundancies and improve efficiency within 270 days of receiving recommendations from a dedicated working group. “The men and women…
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Coast Guard Academy now offering interdisciplinary engineering
05 May

Coast Guard Academy now offering interdisciplinary engineering

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & Training
(NEW LONDON, Conn.) — The U.S. Coast Guard Academy (CGA) has launched a new academic major. Interdisciplinary engineering (IDE) prepares future officers for careers across a wide spectrum of Coast Guard missions. IDE is open to cadets beginning with the Class of 2028. The new academic major advances an interdisciplinary approach to prepare cadets to serve in a wide variety…
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NMC works through credential delays, cancels bulletin
23 Apr

NMC works through credential delays, cancels bulletin

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & Training,
(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — On Tuesday, Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) 06-23 titled “Merchant Mariner Credentialing Delays” was canceled. The National Maritime Center (NMC) is no longer experiencing merchant mariner credential (MMC) issuance delays, therefore the verification of authority afforded in MSIB 06-23 is no longer required. All mariners sailing under the authority of their credential should have a valid MMC…
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NMC update: CPR requirement for original officer endorsement
23 Apr

NMC update: CPR requirement for original officer endorsement

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & Training,
(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The U.S. Coast Guard will accept completed training or continued competence in STCW basic training (BT) as meeting the requirement for CPR for an original officer endorsement, per 46 CFR 11.201(i). This action is being taken to relieve the burden on mariners seeking to obtain a merchant mariner credential (MMC). Original applicants for officer endorsements are required…
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Army Corps partnering with USMMA to modernize campus
15 Apr

Army Corps partnering with USMMA to modernize campus

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & Training,
(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New York District and the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy (USMMA) have entered into a long-term agreement for the revitalization and modernization of USMMA’s campus in Kings Point, N.Y. The initial 10-year agreement was signed on April 11 during a ceremony at USMMA by Brig. Gen. John Lloyd for USACE and Vice…
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National Maritime Center web-based tools no longer available
14 Apr

National Maritime Center web-based tools no longer available

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & Training,
(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — On April 12, the U.S. Coast Guard’s online public access portal, Homeport, was taken offline permanently. Listed below are the primary mariner credentialing services affected by this change and the alternate methods for service currently available: • Merchant mariner application status: To check on the status of an application for a merchant mariner credential or medical certificate,…
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Craig Johnson named president of Maine Maritime Academy
24 Mar

Craig Johnson named president of Maine Maritime Academy

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & Training
(CASTINE, Maine) — Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) has announced the appointment of Craig Johnson of Castine as its 16th president following a formal search which launched last fall. Johnson has served as the academy’s chief operating officer (COO) since August of 2022 and interim president since June 2024. “As COO and interim president, Craig has demonstrated stalwart leadership across the…
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NMC update: Documentation of instructor time for MMCs
06 Mar

NMC update: Documentation of instructor time for MMCs

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & Training
(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The National Maritime Center (NMC) has observed significant variation in documenting instructor experience to meet the requirements for renewal or raise of grade of a merchant mariner credential (MMC) in accordance with 46 CFR 10.227(e) and 10.232(g). To facilitate the timely evaluation of documentation submitted with an MMC application, the NMC recommends training providers issue instructors a…
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NMC transitions from landline phone system to Microsoft Teams
03 Mar

NMC transitions from landline phone system to Microsoft Teams

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & Training
(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The National Maritime Center (NMC) and the Suspension and Revocation National Center of Expertise (S&R NCOE) have transitioned from a legacy landline phone system to a web-based Microsoft Teams system. Effective immediately, individuals at the NMC/S&R NCOE no longer have access to their legacy 304-433-xxxx numbers. It is important to note this transition does not impact the…
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