(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The National Maritime Center (NMC) continues its efforts to reduce the elevated inventory of mariner applications and mitigate impacts on mariners whose applications have been affected by extended processing timelines.
The temporary credential extensions and other mitigation measures outlined in the April 22 update will expire Aug. 31 and will not be extended. The NMC recognizes, however, that some mariners submitted renewal applications before their credentials expired, but extended processing timelines resulted in their credentials expiring while awaiting evaluation.
To address the direct impact of processing delays on this limited population, the NMC is implementing targeted, case-specific relief for qualifying renewal applications. This relief is separate from the temporary extensions expiring Aug. 31 and applies only to mariners meeting eligibility criteria below.
Eligibility for targeted relief
A mariner may qualify for a temporary 120-day authorization to continue sailing under the authority of an expired credential as follows:
• Merchant mariner credentials (MMCs) (national endorsements only) that expired between Jan. 1 and July 31, and
• A renewal application was submitted to the NMC before the credential expired no later than Aug. 25, and
• The NMC evaluation determines that additional information or testing is required to complete the evaluation of the application.
For those eligible applications, the NMC will issue a temporary authorization letter allowing the MMC to remain valid for up to 120 days. Mariners operating under this relief must carry their expired credential and authorization letter while sailing under the authority of the affected national endorsements. The NMC will not issue separate or replacement MMCs reflecting the temporary authorization.
The temporary authorization letter will be sent in conjunction with the applicable request for additional information or approval to test letter. The 120-day authorization does not extend or otherwise modify the response, testing, or other requirements or deadlines contained in that correspondence.
The temporary authorization applies only to national endorsements and does not extend the validity of any Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) endorsements or medical certificates. Additionally, the authorization is only valid for the application for which it was issued. No additional extensions or targeted relief will be granted.
Mariners should carefully review any correspondence received from the NMC and promptly provide all requested information or complete required testing, as applicable. Failure to satisfy the requirements of the pending renewal application will not result in an additional period of temporary authorization.
The NMC continues to process applications on a first-in, first-out basis as expeditiously as possible, and mariners are strongly encouraged to submit renewal applications early to allow sufficient time for evaluation and resolution of any additional requirements.
Mariners are encouraged to monitor the NMC website for future processing timeline updates. For questions, contact the Customer Service Center via the NMC online chat system, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).
– National Maritime Center
