The U.S. Coast Guard has approved a temporary extension of an administrative grace period for merchant mariner credentialing transactions, allowing mariners to renew a merchant mariner credential up to six years after its expiration without taking the complete original examination.
The announcement, made April 26 by the National Maritime Center, said mariners who had previously applied for renewal of the credential after the one-year grace period had expired may re-apply for renewal if they are within the new, extended grace period.
All other credentialing requirements for renewal after expiration remain unchanged, and so in some circumstances, an open book exam may be required.
Mariners who had previously applied for renewal of their credential after the one-year grace period expired may re-apply for renewal if they are within the new, extended grace period. A new application will be needed, including payment of required fees.
Anyone with a current approval-to-test letter issued by the National Maritime Center to re-instate a credential that’s expired beyond the one-year administrative grace period but within six years should contact the National Maritime Center at iasknmc@uscg.mil or (888) 427-5662.
The announcement said that the new policy letter would remain in effect indefinitely, and that the Coast Guard would provide additional guidance concerning expiration of this policy as necessary.
The policy letter is available at https://tinyurl.com/5n78zd4f.