Due to the partial government shutdown, the National Maritime Center (NMC) and all Regional Exam Centers (REC) remain closed. Customer walk-in service is suspended. Examinations and other REC appointments are cancelled, and REC appointment calendars are closed.

The NMC issued a bulletin Jan. 4, 2019, announcing that, in order to mitigate the impact caused by the partial lapse in appropriations and NMC operations, the following actions are being taken:

• Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC) (National Endorsements only) that expire between Dec, 22, 2018, and Jan. 31, 2019, are extended as valid until March 31, 2019. Print the attached letter and carry it with your credential.
• Additional Information letters, sent to mariners, that expire in December 2018 or January 2019 are extended to March 31, 2019.
• Approval to Test letters and mariner training course certificates that expire in the months of December 2018 or January 2019 are extended until March 31, 2019.
• For mariners whose 90-day testing cycles were interrupted by Regional Exam Center closures (starting on Dec. 24, 2018), the days the RECs were closed will not count against the 90-day period. REC appointment calendars will be re-opened immediately once appropriations are restored.

Applications may continue to be e-mailed or mailed in and will be processed when the shutdown is over. The Customer Service Center call center will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday to answer any questions. The NMC understands the partial shutdown may affect industry customers and stakeholders and apologizes for any potential inconvenience.

If you have questions, visit the NMC website, or contact the NMC Customer Service Center by using the NMC online chat system, by e-mailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (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.