Posted:
February 12, 2019
Planning, preparation and early submission are keys to success
AMO's Washington, D.C. office has recently received a number of requests for assistance in expediting credentials so that people can return to work. The two primary factors contributing to these requests are late submission to a Regional Examination Center and the recent government shutdown, which resulted in the National Maritime Center's closure for more than a month.
Government shutdowns have become a fact of life over the past few years and will probably continue to occur from time to time. However, proper planning for credential renewal can help prevent an inconvenience from becoming a personal and professional emergency.
First and foremost, the renewal application, with all supporting documentation, must be submitted to your Regional Examination Center EIGHT to SIX months prior to the credential's expiration date. Unlike years past, early submission of your renewal application will not result in any lost time on your document. Your new document will automatically be issued with an effective date starting the day after the expiration date of your current document, unless you specifically request otherwise.
However, in order to submit your application eight months before expiration, you need to begin planning for renewal 12 to 15 months prior to expiration. This is because all of the training and supporting documentation will normally take three to six months to obtain.
To begin the planning process, visit the NMC website and download the planning checklists that pertain to your specific credential.
Deep-Sea Unlimited, or any credential that carries an STCW endorsement, will be the most complicated and require the most preparation time to renew because of the added training requirements. These credentials all require completion of Basic Training and Advanced Firefighting courses within the previous five years. Depending on endorsements (e.g. Person In Charge, Pilotage, etc.), NMC may also require documentation of recency or experience.
Obtaining and taking courses must be planned well in advance because STAR Center courses are in high demand with wait lists extending to two to three months for some courses. STAR Center is actively managing these wait lists, but there are only so many seats in each class. Please plan your attendance for these classes three or more months in advance. The STAR Center schedule is available on the AMO website.
All credential renewals require:
AMO members advised to submit Merchant Mariner Credential renewal application eight months prior to expiration of current document
Planning, preparation and early submission are keys to success
AMO's Washington, D.C. office has recently received a number of requests for assistance in expediting credentials so that people can return to work. The two primary factors contributing to these requests are late submission to a Regional Examination Center and the recent government shutdown, which resulted in the National Maritime Center's closure for more than a month.
Government shutdowns have become a fact of life over the past few years and will probably continue to occur from time to time. However, proper planning for credential renewal can help prevent an inconvenience from becoming a personal and professional emergency.
First and foremost, the renewal application, with all supporting documentation, must be submitted to your Regional Examination Center EIGHT to SIX months prior to the credential's expiration date. Unlike years past, early submission of your renewal application will not result in any lost time on your document. Your new document will automatically be issued with an effective date starting the day after the expiration date of your current document, unless you specifically request otherwise.
However, in order to submit your application eight months before expiration, you need to begin planning for renewal 12 to 15 months prior to expiration. This is because all of the training and supporting documentation will normally take three to six months to obtain.
To begin the planning process, visit the NMC website and download the planning checklists that pertain to your specific credential.
Deep-Sea Unlimited, or any credential that carries an STCW endorsement, will be the most complicated and require the most preparation time to renew because of the added training requirements. These credentials all require completion of Basic Training and Advanced Firefighting courses within the previous five years. Depending on endorsements (e.g. Person In Charge, Pilotage, etc.), NMC may also require documentation of recency or experience.
Obtaining and taking courses must be planned well in advance because STAR Center courses are in high demand with wait lists extending to two to three months for some courses. STAR Center is actively managing these wait lists, but there are only so many seats in each class. Please plan your attendance for these classes three or more months in advance. The STAR Center schedule is available on the AMO website.
All credential renewals require:
- DOT-approved Five-Panel Drug Test dated within 185 days
- Sea service documentation of 360 days in the previous five years (discharges, company sea service letter)
- Valid U.S. Coast Guard Medical Certificate
- Valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)