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Posted: June 11, 2018
U.S. Coast Guard seeks comments on proposal to change radar refresher/recertification training requirements
The following is excerpted from a notice published by the U.S. Coast Guard in the Federal Register on June 11. The complete bulletin, which includes instructions for submitting comments, is available online.The Coast Guard proposes to revise its merchant mariner credentialing regulations to remove obsolete portions of the radar observer requirements and harmonize the radar observer endorsement with the merchant mariner credential. Under this proposed rule, an active mariner who serves in a relevant position for one year in the previous five years using radar for navigation and collision avoidance purposes on vessels equipped with radar, or has served as a qualified instructor for a Coast Guard approved radar course at least twice within the past five years, would not be required to complete a Coast Guard approved radar refresher or re-certification course in order to renew his or her radar observer endorsement. This proposed rule would not change the existing requirements for mariners seeking an original radar observer endorsement or mariners who do not have either one year of relevant sea service on board radar-equipped vessels in the previous five years or service as a qualified instructor for a Coast Guard approved radar course at least twice within the past five years. Elimination of the requirement to take a radar refresher or re-certification course every five years would reduce (the) burden on affected mariners without impacting safety.
Comments and related material must be received by the Coast Guard on or before July 11, 2018.