The Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing released two Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circulars (NVIC) Aug. 6, 2018 related to watch keeping aboard vessels less than 500 gross tons.

• NVIC 02-18 provides guidance on qualification for, and renewal of, STCW endorsements for service as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch (OICNW) on vessels of less than 500 GT that are valid upon all waters. The Coast Guard will use NVIC 02-18 and 46 CFR 11.319 to establish whether mariners are qualified for STCW endorsements authorizing service as OICNW on vessels of less than 500 GT that are valid upon all waters (i.e., not limited to near-coastal waters).

• NVIC 03-18 provides guidance on qualification for, and renewal of, endorsements under Table A-II/2 of the STCW Code for service as Master on vessels of less than 500 GT that are valid upon all waters. The Coast Guard will use NVIC 03-18 and 46 CFR Part 11.315 to establish whether mariners are qualified to hold STCW endorsements as Master of Vessels of Less Than 500 GT that are valid upon all waters (i.e., not limited to near-coastal voyages).

For full details and enclosures, view the NVICs online.

All requests for changes and questions regarding implementation of these NVICs should be directed to the Mariner Credentialing Program Policy Division at 202-372-2357 or MMCPolicy@uscg.mil. To obtain approval for a training course or program, or for an alternative to the assessments in the enclosures, contact the National Maritime Center at IAskNMC@uscg.mil or 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.