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National Maritime Center (NMC)
Providing Credentials to Mariners
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Top 10 Reasons Coast Guard Licensing Applications are Delayed
 
  1. Medical Condition - Additional medical information is required whenever a medical condition is identified on the Merchant Marine Personnel Physical Examination Report.
  2. Sea Service - Missing or conflicting information on the sea service letter (e.g., not including tonnage or horsepower, the position listed does not agree with other documents in the application package, or conflicting waters). Service should be documented with discharges, letters from marine employers, or small boat sea service forms. If a small boat service form is used, it must be certified and signed by the owner or proof of individual ownership is required.
  3. Applications - If the application is not completed, it will be returned for correction. Three signatures are mandatory: Section III ("Have you ever...?" questions), Section V (consent of National Driver Registry check), and Section VI (application certification). When the "Applying for:" block is left blank or is incomplete, the REC is left to guess what you want.
  4. Copies of Required Certificates/Documents - Photocopies of essential documents must be provided. These may include Radar Observer Certificates, other course completion certificates, 1st Aid/CPR certificates, Towing Officer Assessment Records (TOARs), STCW assessments, citizenship documents when required, etc.
  5. Drug Screen - A drug screen is often rejected because it does not contain the Medical Review Officer's (MRO) signature or a company compliance letter is not written to meet the requirements of the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 46, Part 16, Section 220.
  6. Current or Past License, Document, and/or STCW - A mariner who is holding, or has held, a license, MMC, and/or STCW certificate who does not indicate it in the history (Section II of the application) or does not include a copy of their credentials (front and back) with the application package. This especially applies for renewals and mariners with past transactions at other RECs.
  7. Physical Exam - If the Merchant Marine Personnel Physical Examination/Certification Report is not complete, it will be returned for correction. Particular attention is paid to the "competent", "not competent", and "needs further review" boxes, which are frequently blank. Often the type of color vision exam given in Section IV in not indicated or mariners who wear glasses and/or contacts submit exams without their uncorrected vision listed in Section III.
  8. Awaiting Information - NMC must verify your credentials. Often the Mariner forgets information or we need more information in order to evaluate your experience, medical history, drug testing, or approved courses. Please include all required information.
  9. Training Certificate(s) - please make sure that you include copies of all training certificates, approved courses, or any qualifying certificate to help support your claim for a rating or credential.
  10. User Fees - No or incorrect payments are included with the application. Licensing user fees changed as of October 4, 1999. Current fees are published in the most recent Code of Federal Regulations, Title 46, Part 10, Section 109 and on the web here.

NMC Customer Service Center (CSC): 1-888-IASKNMC (1-888-427-5662) email (IASKNMC)

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Merchant Mariner Credential List Server

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Last Modified 2/9/2012