The National Maritime Center posted a bulletin to its website providing information regarding how it will process applications for National Officer/Rating Endorsements that expire March 24, 2019.

The Coast Guard amended regulations to qualify for national officer and rating endorsements in a final rule titled Implementation of the Amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, and Changes to National Endorsements (78 FR 77796). The rule was published Dec. 24, 2013. The portions applicable to national endorsements became effective March 24, 2014.

The final rule provided grandfathering provisions for mariners who began the service and/or training for their endorsement before March 24, 2014. Under these grandfathering provisions, mariners who began service or training for a national endorsement may qualify for the endorsement under the regulation and polices existing before March 24, 2014, provided they apply for the endorsement before March 24, 2019.

CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-19 provides guidance for evaluating applications for national officer and rating endorsements to Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC). It explains how applications submitted near the expiration of the transitional provisions on March 24, 2019, will be processed.

Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 02-14, “Grandfathering and Transitional Provisions for Merchant Mariner Credentials,” Enclosure (1) provides information on transitional or grandfathering provisions for national endorsements.

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.