The Coast Guard recently released the Merchant Mariner Medical Manual that it expects will result in less subjective and more efficient medical evaluations that are so crucial to mariners’ jobs.
The final version comes after several years’ work clarifying and consolidating guidance from a variety of documents. Consequently, the Coast Guard said, it does not expect the manual to result in higher rates of disqualification or increased processing time for applications.
The manual is “a positive step forward that allows operators and mariners to better understand the medical evaluation process,” the American Waterways Operators (AWO) said. “That transparency will hopefully lead to increased efficiency in applying for, and obtaining, medical certificates.”