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Navigating the Mariner Credentialing System
Richard Wells is VP of the Offshore Marine Service Association (OMSA) which represents more than 100 U.S. companies that operate vessels in support of offshore oil and gas operations on the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf.
There are some tasks in life that layman undertake without professional assistance at significant risk. Three that come to mind are surgery, federal income tax preparation, and applying for a USCG mariner credential. I am unqualified to discuss the first two, but hope to shed some light on how to minimize delays and rejections when applying for a USCG mariner credential, such as a license, merchant mariner's document (MMD or z-card), or STCW certificate. Why is this risky? Because nearly everyone would agree that the regulations and policies for applying for a mariner's credential are incredibly complex, often change during the five-year period between renewals, and can often seem illogical and inconsistent to a layman. One statistic says it all -- the Coast Guard reports that 80% of applications are filled out incompletely or incorrectly, resulting in frustration and delays for the mariner. So what is a prospective mariner to do? An applicant could seek assistance from one of the many mariner training schools, seek assistance from your marine employer, purchase the services of a license consultant or contact the local USCG Regional Examination Center for help. Many mariner training schools not only provide USCGrequired training courses, but often also review or assist in completing a credential application. Some charge a modest fee, others provide this service at no cost for their students. But you should consider whether it is reasonable to expect a school that is an expert on deck officer licenses to also be an expert on an engineers' credential that is not part of their normal customer base. Many marine employers try to assist applicants in creating a complete and accurate application. If they regularly do this they are more likely to know the normal pitfalls and any recent USCG changes in policy or procedures. Smaller companies may find it hard to keep up with the
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frequent changes in procedures. For applicants with non-traditional sea service or seeking to use the "equivalent service" provisions in the regulations, finding the right license consultant may be the right route to take. These consultants are more familiar with some of the alternate routes to a credential and are more likely to have the time and ability to research regulations and draft explanations of why your non-traditional service should be accepted or appeals of unfavorable USCG decisions. While generally more expensive than other routes, it may be more likely to resolve your application quickly and in a satisfactory manner. If you choose to try to navigate this process without professional assistance, you should call or email the local USCG Regional Examination Center (REC) or the National Maritime Center (NMC) at iasknmc@uscg.mil and study their web site at www.uscg.mil/nmc to reduce the probability of having your application denied or delayed. The web site menu tabs labeled "Info Packages" and "Checklists" are good starting points for your research.
Tips that can increase the odds of success.
1. Make sure that every block on every USCG form that you submit as part of your application is complete and legible. Do NOT leave any blocks blank. If the information requested is not applicable or none, then put "N/A" or "none" in that block. All of the required and optional forms can be downloaded from www.uscg.mil/nmc/downloads.asp and completed on your computer or on a typewriter to improve legibility. 2. Use the check lists on the NMC web site to ensure you are submitting all the required documents your credential requires and keep a copy of your complete application in case the original is "lost." 3. If you also need an STCW certificate along with your
January 2009