MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIALING POLICIES

The following policies regarding Merchant Mariner Credentialing are in effect: 

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 04-24 (08 Oct 2024) | Temporary Changes in Service Requirements for STCW Deck Rating Endorsements

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 03-24 (26 Aug 2024) | Exemption from Fees Associated with Merchant Mariner Credential Applications for Active Duty and Selected Reserve Members of the Uniformed Services

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 02-24 (29 May 2024) | Temporary Reduction in Service Requirements for Certain Deck Ratings

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-24 (25 April 2024) | Temporary Extension of Administrative Grace Period for Credentialing Transactions

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 05-23 (24 October 2023) | STCW Endorsements as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch and Master of Vessels of Less Than 500 GT Limited to Near Coast Waters in the Virgin Islands

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 04-23 (12 June 2023) | Sea Service Credit for Able Seaman Courses of Instruction

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 03-23 (23 May 2023) | Evaluation of Suitability for Applicants with Convictions for Sexual Assault

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 02-23 (16 May 2023) | Status on American Samoans for Merchant Mariner Credentialing 

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-23 (14 March 2023) | Guidance on Qualification for National Endorsements as Tankerman-Assistant and STCW Endorsements for Basic Tanker Operations 

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-22 (4 February 2022) | Merchant Mariner Credential Endorsements for Service on Floating Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Facilities 

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 03-21 (18 August 2021) | Issuance of Endorsements for Master of Self-Propelled Vessels of Less than 100 GRT to Mariners Holding Endorsements as Mate of Self-Propelled Vessels of 200 GRT or More

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 02-21 (05 August 2021) | Guidance on Voluntary Compliance with Training Requirements for Personnel Serving on U.S. Flagged Passenger Ships that Carry More than 12 Passengers on International Voyages

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-21 CH-2 (13 December 2022) | Guidelines for Obtaining STCW Endorsements for Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations 

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 03-20 (24 August 2020) | (Expired) Temporary Guidance for Renewal of Merchant Mariner Credentials During the Covid-19 Pandemic 

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 02-20 (26 May 2020) | (Cancelled by CG-MMC Policy Letter 03-24 effective November 4, 2024) Merchant Mariner Credential Application Fees for Active-Duty Members of the Uniformed Services

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-20 (12 May 2020) | Affidavits Use in Conjunction with Mariner Credentialing

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 04-19 (20 June 2019) | STCW Endorsements as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch and Master of Vessels of Less than 500 GT Limited to Near Coastal Voyages from the Port of San Diego, California

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 03-19 (07 June 2019) | Renewal of Endorsements as Radar Observer

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-19 (04 March 2019) | Processing of Applications for National Officer and Rating Endorsements Under Transitional Provisions that Expire on March 24, 2019

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 05-18 (19 October 2018) | Guidelines for Coast Guard Approved Training for Basic and Advanced Meteorology

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 04-18 (19 October 2018) | Qualified Member of the Engine Department (QMED) Endorsements for Engineer Officers Endorsed for Service on Inspected Vessels Over 2,000 Horsepower 

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 03-18 (26 June 2018) | (Cancelled by CG-MMC Policy Letter 05-23 effective October 24, 2023) | STCW Endorsements as Master of Vessels of Less Than 500 GT Limited to Near Coastal Waters in the Virgin Islands

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 02-18 CH-2 (27 October 2022) | Change 2 to Guidelines for Qualifications of Personnel for Issuing STCW Endorsements for Basic and Advanced Polar Code Operations 

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-18 (28 February 2018) | Guidelines for Requesting Harmonization of Expiration Dates of Merchant Mariner Credentials and Mariner Medical Certificates When Applying for an Original or Renewal Merchant Mariner Credential

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-17 (10 March 2017) Cancelled by the rulemaking on Person in Charge of Fuel Transfers, Docket number USCG-2018-0493 effective May 27, 2020, | Guidelines for Issuing Endorsements for Tankerman Pic Restricted to Fuel Transfers on Towing Vessels

• CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-16 (30 November 2016) | Restricted Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (ROUPV) Endorsements

• CG-CVC Policy Letter 15-03 (16 October 2015) | Crediting Recent Service of Uniformed Service Personnel

• CG-CVC Policy Letter 14-03 (06 April 2015) | Evaluating Sea Service Aboard Lift Boats

• CG-CVC Policy Letter 11-11 CH-1 (12 March 2015) | Engineer Officer Endorsements on Uninspected Commercial Fishing Industry Vessels

• CG-OES Policy Letter 01-15 (19 February 2015) | Guidelines for Liquefied Natural Gas Fuel Transfer Operations and Training of Personnel on Vessels Using Natural Gas as Fuel

• CG-543 Policy Letter 11-15 (19 December 2011) | Processing of Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMC) for Mariners Not Requiring a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)

• CG-543 Policy Letter 11-12 | Sea Service on Vessels Measured Under Both the Regulatory Measurement System and Convention Measurement System 

• NMC Policy Letter 07-01 (05 April 2001) | Recognition of Training Courses Approved or Accepted by Foreign Administrations

• NMC Policy Letter 1-2000 (March 15, 2000) | Sea Service Credit in the Gulf of Mexico