The National Maritime Center issued a bulletin with information for mariners whose credentials were lost due to Hurricane Harvey.

In accordance with federal regulations, duplicate Merchant Mariner Credentials may be issued free of charge to mariners whose credentials were lost or destroyed as a result of Hurricane Harvey and the recent flooding in Texas and neighboring states. Mariners should follow the steps below to obtain an expedited replacement credential:

• Provide a statement of loss to the National Maritime Center via fax at 1-304-433-3412 or via e-mail at IASKNMC@uscg.mil. The statement should contain the following:

o Mariner’s full name
o Mariner’s date of birth
o Mariner’s reference number (MRN) (if you don’t know the reference number, include the social security number)
o The mailing address that the replacement credential should be sent to
o Current phone number and/or e-mail address that we can use to contact the mariner in the event of questions
o Description of the circumstances surrounding the loss/destruction of the credential

Unless otherwise requested, any duplicate Merchant Mariner Credentials issued per the request process above will include a corresponding Medical Certificate, if previously issued. We will make every effort to have duplicate credentials mailed out the next business day. Alternatively, mariners may submit form CG-719B, Application for Merchant Mariner Credential, to one of the Regional Exam Centers with the information above. If your credential is unserviceable due to damage or your lost credential is subsequently found, that credential should be mailed to the National Maritime Center.

If you have questions or feedback regarding duplicate credentials, please contact the National Maritime Center via our Online Chat or Ticketing System, by e-mailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (1-888-427-5662).

This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official source documents, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These documents remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.