U.S. Coast Guard – Page 2 – Professional Mariner

26 May

NMC update: Extension dates for MMCs, medical certificates

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingNMC, U.S. Coast Guard

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The National Maritime Center (NMC) is expanding the existing extension policy for merchant mariner credentials (MMCs) and medical certificates impacted by the 2026 lapse in appropriations and continued processing delays. Effective immediately, MMCs (national endorsements only) and medical certificates (national and pilot expiration dates only) that expire between Jan. 1, 2026, and July 31, 2026, will remain…

26 May

New Bollinger fast response cutter honors 9/11 hero

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newsshipbuilding, U.S. Coast Guard

(NEW YORK) — Bollinger Shipyards on Friday joined senior U.S. Coast Guard officials, distinguished guests, and the family of Vincent Danz at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City for the commissioning ceremony of USCGC Vincent Danz (WPC-1162), a Sentinel-class fast response cutter (FRC). “On Sept. 11, 2001, our nation witnessed acts of extraordinary courage and…

18 May

New Coast Guard icebreaker completes Bering Sea mission

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreakers, U.S. Coast Guard

(SEATTLE) — The crew of the U.S. Coast Guard’s newest polar icebreaker, USCGC Storis (WAGB 21), returned to their temporary Seattle home port Monday after a 36-day deployment to the Bering Sea. The patrol focused on advancing operational readiness, strengthening interoperability with other military assets and testing new concepts to support prolonged operations in one of the world’s most demanding…

15 May

Normal operations resume at regional examination centers

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingNMC, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — Effective Monday, May 18, all regional examination centers (RECs) and monitoring units (MUs) except for REC New Orleans and MU San Juan will return to routine operations, including availability to schedule examinations for all mariners. REC New Orleans will remain temporarily closed to walk-in and counter service, but its examination room will reopen for scheduling and conducting mariner…

13 May

Unexpected current led to Galveston barge breakaway, oil spill

Professional Mariner StaffCasualty Newsbrownwater, NTSB, Tugboats and towing, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — On May 15, 2024, about 0947 local time, the towing vessel LCPL Phillip C George was departing the Texas International Terminal in Galveston, Texas, pushing two loaded tank barges, when the port quarter of the towboat struck a terminal dolphin. One of the barges, MMLP 321, separated from the tow and struck a power transmission pole and the…

13 May

U.S. indicts Dali operators for fatal Baltimore bridge strike

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime Newscasualties, NTSB, shipping, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — Federal prosecutors have brought criminal charges against two companies and an employee connected with the 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, World News Group reported. Dali, a 984-foot containership, crashed into the bridge in the early morning of March 26, 2024. The collapse killed six construction workers on the bridge and resulted in at least $5…

11 May

Coast Guard ends seasonal icebreaking in East, Great Lakes

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsIcebreaking, Navigation, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — The U.S. Coast Guard concluded all icebreaking operations in America’s Eastern and Great Lakes waterways on Thursday following a severe winter season that continued well into spring in some regions. Operation Taconite, the Coast Guard’s final ongoing domestic icebreaking operation, has ended as ice throughout the western Great Lakes has nearly melted and icebreaking in support of commercial…

07 May

NMC issues guidance on expired shipping labels, processing delays

Professional Mariner StaffLicensing & TrainingNMC, U.S. Coast Guard

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — The National Maritime Center (NMC) is implementing an update to its policy regarding the use of customer-provided U.S. Postal Service (USPS) shipping labels for credential delivery. Due to current application inventory levels and extended processing timelines, applications may not be completed for several months after submission. In accordance with USPS shipping policy, shipping labels that are more…

07 May

Safety alert: Importance of bridge visibility, trained lookouts

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsLicensing and training, Navigation, Safety alert, U.S. Coast Guard

(WASHINGTON) — Major contributing factors to several recent collisions and near-collisions included cargo-loading conditions that negatively impacted the operator’s visibility from the navigation bridge. Failing to address obstructions to visibility from the navigation bridge, by either moving cargo or posting trained lookouts, has repeatedly resulted in catastrophic outcomes including loss of life and property damage. Vessel operators, owners, and crews…

04 May

NMC resuming normal operations; processing delays likely

Professional Mariner StaffMaritime NewsLicensing and training, NMC, U.S. Coast Guard

(MARTINSBURG, W.Va.) — Funding for the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Coast Guard has been restored, and the National Maritime Center (NMC) and Regional Examination Centers (RECs) are resuming normal operations in a phased approach to prioritize the most critical functions and address the backlog of applications and examinations resulting from the lapse in appropriations. Application procedures and processing…