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Thursday, March 28, 2024

MSIB: Ensuring the Validity of Merchant Mariner Credentials and Endorsements

The small percentage of mariners who willingly subvert the USCG’s credentialing rules pose a significant threat.

The Coast Guard Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy has published Marine Safety Information Bulletin 01-22 “Ensuring the validity of merchant mariner credentials and endorsements” to discuss the process of verifying the validity of merchant mariner credentials (MMCs) for current and prospective employees.

As a maritime employer, do you know how to verify the validity of merchant mariner credentials (MMCs) for current and prospective employees?

This is an important question to consider when deciding whether to hire, promote, or discipline a merchant mariner. It is also critical step to ensure the overall safety of your maritime operations. As such, the United States Coast Guard has implemented new control measures to ensure mariners inform their marine employer of the status of their MMC following administrative enforcement action by the USCG. For example, mariners must notify their employer of the Suspension & Revocation (S&R) enforcement action being taken against their MMC within one week of entering into a settlement agreement. While in settlement, they must also provide current employment information as well as any prospective employers to the USCG for verification purposes. Failure to make either notification will be considered a breach of the settlement agreement and subsequently trigger the USCG’s pre-settlement proposed sanction (e.g., revocation).

In the past, the USCG has encountered situations in which mariners failed to disclose the status of their credential to their marine employers while in settlement and/or have continued to work under the authority of their credential while it or certain endorsements were suspended or reduced in scope. For example, the USCG has identified that multiple mariners in drug settlements sought and obtained new employment in safety-sensitive positions while their credentials were on deposit, knowing that many marine employers do not check credential validity or status during the hiring process. In another case, a mariner who submitted fraudulent training certificates to the USCG continued to serve as a master despite having their MMC reduced and endorsements removed by the National Maritime Center (NMC).

Credentialed mariners are entrusted with the safety and security of commercial vessels, and the vast majority are dedicated, safety-conscious individuals who work hard to earn and maintain their professional credentials and endorsements. However, the small percentage of mariners who willingly subvert the USCG’s credentialing rules pose a significant threat to the entire marine transportation system. I am publishing this Marine Safety Information Bulletin to highlight the importance of verifying the authenticity of all MMCs and the associated endorsements.

To assist marine employers in determining whether mariners are qualified to serve in specific shipboard roles and duties, the following recommendations are provided:

  1. Merchant Mariner Verification: Marine employers are encouraged to periodically verify the validity of their employees’ MMCs by utilizing the USCG’s Merchant Mariner Verification tool. An MMC and its endorsements may be invalidated, revoked, suspended, or fraudulently altered over the course of the standard 5-year issuance cycle. The USCG highly recommends using this verification tool during the hiring process as it displays only the most recently issued MMC, endorsements, and medical certificates. For more information, please visit: Merchant Mariner Verification tool. The USCG recommends using either Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer to access the tool. Unsupported browsers such as Chrome, Firefox or Safari, may erroneously show that credentials are invalid or display an incompatibility warning. If this occurs, please contact the NMC via chat, email, or phone.
  2. General Questions Concerning MMCs or Endorsements: Anyone with general questions or concerns related to specific MMCs or endorsements can contact the National Maritime Center or their local Regional Exam Center. For the most up-to-date news concerning the National Maritime Center, maritime transportation system stakeholders can also sign-up for email notifications.
  3. Information Related to Suspected Credentialing Fraud or Other Criminal Acts: Any information related to Merchant Mariner Credentialing Fraud, or other federal crimes committed on or affecting the maritime community, should be reported to the Coast Guard. Reports can be made anonymously to the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS) either via the internet or through the CGIS Tips App

Read more at USCG

MSIB: Ensuring the Validity of Merchant Mariner Credentials and Endorsements Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Today
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.
Homeland Security Today
Homeland Security Todayhttp://www.hstoday.us
The Government Technology & Services Coalition's Homeland Security Today (HSToday) is the premier news and information resource for the homeland security community, dedicated to elevating the discussions and insights that can support a safe and secure nation. A non-profit magazine and media platform, HSToday provides readers with the whole story, placing facts and comments in context to inform debate and drive realistic solutions to some of the nation’s most vexing security challenges.

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