The National Maritime Center posted a bulletin to announce that merchant mariner credentials (MMC) and medical certificates (national endorsements only) that expired in December 2018, January 2019, February 2019, March 2019, April 2019, May 2019, June 2019, or July 2019 will remain valid only until August 31, 2019, as announced in an earlier bulletin dated July 1, 2019. No further credential extensions are authorized.

The backlog of credential applications and increased net processing time caused by the lapse in appropriations and partial government shutdown has improved. Within the next two weeks, the NMC will resume processing all MMC applications within the stated goal of 30 net days. Applications for medical certificates are currently processed well under the stated goal of 20 net days.

The NMC recommends mariners submit their application packages at least two months prior to the expiration date of their current credentials. If you need immediate assistance or require expedited processing, contact our Customer Service Center via the NMC online chat system, by e-mailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).

For general information, visit the NMC website.

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.