Posted:
March 18, 2016
By Mike Murphy
National Vice President, Government Relations
Medical Certificates were first issued in January 2014 as part of the STCW 2010 Manila Amendment implementation. It is important that you have this document with you at all times on the ship as the Coast Guard and Port State Control will be checking it. It is even more important that you examine the dates on the Medical Certificate closely. YOUR MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL IS NOT VALID IF YOUR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAS EXPIRED.
You will find three expiration dates listed: STCW, National and Pilot.
For STCW qualified officers: The STCW expiration date governs the length of time between physicals. This date will be two years from the date that the Coast Guard approved your last physical, unless you have a medical waiver that reduces the time. Note that the effective date of your Medical Certificate does not match the date you took your physical - the clock begins when the Coast Guard approves it.
The difficult part is that the tracking of this date falls squarely on your shoulders. AMO is building a tracking system so we can provide a reminder six months in advance, but right now it is completely incumbent on the mariner to ensure they have a current certificate at all times. Ensure you always submit your new Medical Certificate to AMO Dispatching to help us keep track of your expiration dates.
I am recommending that you start six months in advance in order to get the physical, allow time to work out any medical problems and give NMC time to update and mail the new certificate. This means the certificate is really only good for 18 months. For those of you required by your company to get an annual physical, make sure the medical provider fills out the Coast Guard medical form (CG-719K), and make sure to submit it annually. Note: the Coast Guard now accepts MSC physicals in lieu of their form.
For Great Lakes and inland waters mariners: The problem is less complicated. The National Expiration Date governs the validity of your document. This date should be five years from the date the Coast Guard approved your last physical examination, unless a medical waiver is issued for a shorter period of time.
For pilots: The period will be two years, BUT each pilot is still required to take a physical every year.
The process for submission is simple.
Your U.S. Coast Guard Medical Certificate
By Mike Murphy
National Vice President, Government Relations
Medical Certificates were first issued in January 2014 as part of the STCW 2010 Manila Amendment implementation. It is important that you have this document with you at all times on the ship as the Coast Guard and Port State Control will be checking it. It is even more important that you examine the dates on the Medical Certificate closely. YOUR MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL IS NOT VALID IF YOUR MEDICAL CERTIFICATE HAS EXPIRED.
You will find three expiration dates listed: STCW, National and Pilot.
For STCW qualified officers: The STCW expiration date governs the length of time between physicals. This date will be two years from the date that the Coast Guard approved your last physical, unless you have a medical waiver that reduces the time. Note that the effective date of your Medical Certificate does not match the date you took your physical - the clock begins when the Coast Guard approves it.
The difficult part is that the tracking of this date falls squarely on your shoulders. AMO is building a tracking system so we can provide a reminder six months in advance, but right now it is completely incumbent on the mariner to ensure they have a current certificate at all times. Ensure you always submit your new Medical Certificate to AMO Dispatching to help us keep track of your expiration dates.
I am recommending that you start six months in advance in order to get the physical, allow time to work out any medical problems and give NMC time to update and mail the new certificate. This means the certificate is really only good for 18 months. For those of you required by your company to get an annual physical, make sure the medical provider fills out the Coast Guard medical form (CG-719K), and make sure to submit it annually. Note: the Coast Guard now accepts MSC physicals in lieu of their form.
For Great Lakes and inland waters mariners: The problem is less complicated. The National Expiration Date governs the validity of your document. This date should be five years from the date the Coast Guard approved your last physical examination, unless a medical waiver is issued for a shorter period of time.
For pilots: The period will be two years, BUT each pilot is still required to take a physical every year.
The process for submission is simple.
- Fill out an application form (CG-719B) and write Medical Certificate renewal in Section II, Description of Endorsement.
- Attach your completed physical form, CG-719K or MSC physical form.
- Submit in person, email or fax to your Regional Examination Center (REC).