U.S. Coast Guard offers relief for mariner credential backlog

The U.S. Coast Guard and the National Maritime Center (NMC) are implementing targeted relief for merchant mariners affected by a processing backlog in credential renewals. This measure provides a temporary 120-day authorization for qualifying mariners to continue sailing under expired national endorsements while their applications are being evaluated.

To be eligible, a mariner must have submitted a renewal application before their Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) expired and no later than August 25. Additionally, the credential must have expired between January 1 and July 31, and the NMC must determine that the application requires further information or testing.

This specific relief is separate from broader temporary extensions that are set to expire on August 31 without further extension. The 120-day authorization applies only to national endorsements and does not extend medical certificates or Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) endorsements. Mariners using this relief must carry both their expired MMC and the official authorization letter. The 120-day period does not alter existing deadlines for submitting required documentation or completing necessary testing.