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Coast Guard Licensing and STCW Requirement Changes

The Coast Guard is working to determine how and what Amendements to the International STCW Convention will be implemented for U.S. mariners. The 2010 STCW Amendments, adopted in Manila on June 25th are set to enter into force on January 1, 2012.  Another international convention the Maritime Labour Convention (MLC 2006) is up for possible ratification by the United States. To read more click on the following link:  Coast Guard Licensing and STCW Requirement Changes 

Coast Guard may publish a Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on 1995 Amendments to the STCW Convention

March 23, 2010 - The Coast Guard annouced that it is revisiting the approach proposed in the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on the implementation of the 1995 Amendments to the International STCW Convention as published in the Federal Register on November 17, 2009.

The Coast Guard stated: "In response to feedback we have received and to the expected adoption of the 2010 amendments to the Convention under development at the IMO, the Coast Guard is reviewing the approach outlined in the NPRM. As such, we are considering publishing a Supplemental NPRM (SNPRM) as the next step. The SNPRM would describe any proposed changes to the NPRM, and seek comments from the public on those proposed changes."   For complete details, please go to view th March 23, 2010, Federal Register Notice at http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2010/pdf/2010-6297.pdf

 Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on 1995 Amendments to the STCW Convention

The Coast Guard proposes to amend its regulations to fully incorporate the International Convention on STCW as amended in 1995. The changes proposed will incorporate the lessons learned from implementation of the STCW Convention and STCW Code through the interim rule (since 1997) and attempt to clarify those regulations that have generated confusion. The proposed regulations can be accessed by going to http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-26821.pdf

The Coast Guard plans to hold public meetings and will announce the dates and locations in a later Federal Register. There is a comment period for this Proposed Rule. The comment period will end on February 16, 2010. Comments may be submitted under the Coast Guard Docket number USCG-2004-17914 via the Federal eRulemaking Portal: http:\\www.regulations.gov

New MMC Application Physical Examination Report Forms

Merchant mariner physical examinations completed on or after January 1, 2001 must be on the new Merchant Mariner Physical Examination Report Forms CG-719K and CG-719 K/E. The CG-719 K/E form should be used only by mariners seeking an entry level credential limited to to applicants for the following rating endorsements: Ordinary Seaman, Wiper or Steward's Department (food handler). The CG 719 K form should be used for all other endorsement applications.  The new forms are available at our USCG Forms page.     Physical exams completed and signed on the old physical examination forms prior to January 1, 2010 will continue to be accepted by the Coast Guard provided they are dated within one year of the MMC application.

MARITIME WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT ACT  PASSES HOUSE   

October 15, 2009 (Washington, DC):– Congressman Elijah E. Cummings was pleased with passage of the Maritime Workforce Development Act, H.R. 2651. The bill passed on a voice vote, with more than two-thirds of the House voting in favor. Congressman Cummings wrote this legislation to address the education and training needs of our nation’s merchant mariners.

Individuals can receive up to $60,000 in loans over the course of a lifetime. H.R. 2651 also authorizes the appropriation of $10 million in each of fiscal years 2010 through 2015 to support loans, attracting new individuals to a field critical to the success of our national economy.

H.R. 2651 amends Title 46 of the United States Code, directing the Secretary of Transportation to establish a student loan program to attract the next generation of workers to good paying jobs available in the maritime industry. The loan program will also help those already in the industry obtain the certifications and training they need to move ahead in their careers.

Many of those who currently work in the maritime industry are nearing retirement age. The Maritime Administration    indicated that at the time of the hearings regarding this bill, the average age of a mariner with a Master’s license was 51 while the average age of a Chief Engineer was 50.

While many facilities in the United States provide outstanding training programs for those seeking to enter or advance in the maritime field, tuition can be very expensive. Mariners who have already begun their careers rarely enroll in 2 or 4-year educational programs. Instead, they typically enroll in multi-week courses to obtain a specific new certification – and they enroll in such courses several times a year.

CONSOLIDATED MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL (MMC)

The Coast Guard published a final rule on March 16, 2009 consolidating the credentials issued to merchant mariners into a single credential and reducing the burden on mariners by limiting the number of times they need to appear in person to provide fingerprints and proof of identity. This final rule, which will become effective on April 15, 2009, addresses the comments received from the public in response to the Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. A copy of the final rule is available on the Federal Register’s website http://www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/ and quick search MMC.

• The regulation consolidates the credentials issued to merchant mariners into a single credential.

• The regulation also streamlines the application process for the MMC by removing the requirement that all mariners appear at one of 17 Regional Exam Centers, so long as they have already enrolled for a TWIC at one of 149 TWIC Enrollment Centers.

• The rule works in tandem with the joint Final Rule published by the Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration on January 25, 2007, entitled "Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Implementation in the Maritime Sector; Hazardous Materials Endorsement for a Commercial Driver's License."

TWIC Card Disruption - February 23, 2009

If you were issued a TWIC card before October 21^st 2008:

The power outage that disrupted T.W.I.C. activations on Oct. 21, 2008 permanently damaged the equipment used to reset T.W.I.C. PINs, AND wiped the PIN codes from existence. No data or personal information was lost or compromised, just the PINs. As a result, if you were issued a T.W.I.C. prior to this date and forgot your PIN, you will be issued a replacement card free of charge.

I spoke with the T.S.A. Help Desk and found out that if your issue date was prior to October 21, 2008 you"ll have no option but to replace the card and activate the new one the same as you did when you first received it. You can use your old PIN if you want to (if you remember it). The deadline date stands and is only going to change if your C.O.T.P. decides it’s necessary. If you are still in process when April 15th rolls around, you will be ok if you can produce your ticket # according to the info we just received.

It was emphasized that you need to be in process as soon as possible. It is said to take 2-4 weeks, at least. In order to do this, please contact the T.W.I.C. Help Desk (1-866-DHS-TWIC) to open a ticket and receive further instructions. Once your replacement card is ready for pick up, you will be notified via phone or email (the option you selected during enrollment). At that time, you make an appointment for activation at www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twic/index.shtm The Transportation Security Agency is going to contact card holders, but you can initiate the process yourself. Here are the steps:

1. Call 866-347-8942.

2. When the prompts begin, press 3. When you get to that menu, press 2. That will get you in touch with a real live person.

3. Tell them you are calling because your T.W.I.C. was issued prior to October 21, 2008. They will need the following information:

• Name
• Date of Birth
• A telephone Number where they can leave a message that a new T.W.I.C. is ready for pick up, and the location of T.W.I.C. Center where you got your card.

4. Receive a ticket number - it is a 6 digit tracking number. Write the number down for future reference.

One individual who has tried stated: It didn’t take terribly long (it took me 5 min after I got a human being on the phone) I would suggest everyone do this as soon as possible.

You will be notified when your new card is ready (there is no time frame on replacements). Your card will still be used as a verification by your picture. You just return your old card. There is no fee as long as you return your old card. If you do not have it, you will be charged the lost card fee - $60.

There may also be problems with cards issued after October 21, 2008. You can have your card checked at the T.W.I.C. center. Ask them to swipe the card and to confirm that your PIN is still valid.

There isn’t any definitive information regarding what changes may affect the April 15th Deadline as yet. But it doesn’t appear that it will be changed in any event.

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Quality Maritime Training Sets up new ship's training simulators for Radar, ARPA and ECDIS. 

See the press release for more details.

Other News Pages on this web site

These are the press releases we've issued over the last year. You may want to search for topics by keyword.

•  Towing Vessel Officer DE Training
•  Industry News
• Renewing Your Coast Guard License