USCG Launching New Merchant Mariner Credential Format

USCG Launching New Merchant Mariner Credential Format

Starting March 1, the U.S. Coast Guard plans to issue merchant mariner credentials in a new format that replaces the red passport-style book with related endorsement labels, according to the National Maritime Center. “The complexity and degraded reliability of the custom printers used to print the (credential) books necessitated a change to the credential printing process,” according to USCG, adding that the new credentials are going to be “printed on readily available commercial desktop laser jet printers and will vastly improve print services and availability.” The new format is expected to be on 8.5-inch by 11-inch “waterproof and tear-resistant synthetic…
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Delays Continue in Merchant Mariner Credentials Issuance

Delays Continue in Merchant Mariner Credentials Issuance

A massive influx of applications and technical issues with credential producing equipment at the National Maritime Center continue to delay when merchant mariner credentials are being issued, the NMC said April 25. “The Coast Guard is working as quickly as possible to resolve these issues and we do not want these delays to burden the mariner’s ability to use their MMC (merchant mariner credentials),” the center said, adding that these issues don’t impact mariner medical certificates or endorsements processing. To help troubleshoot delays, the NMC announced an interim verification process.  For mariners only serving on domestic voyages, the MMC application…
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