Due to a continued backlog of credential applications caused by the lapse in appropriations and shutdown of National Maritime Center operations, the US Coast Guard announced a further extension of validity in merchant mariner credentials and medical certificates.
The National Maritime Center namely posted a bulletin to alert mariners that due to a continued backlog of credential applications and increased net processing time of both mariner credential applications and medical certificate applications, merchant mariner credentials (MMC) and medical certificates (national endorsements only) that expire in December 2018, January 2019, February 2019, March 2019, April 2019, May 2019, June 2019, or July 2019 are extended as valid until August 31, 2019.
This follows an earlier update by the USCG which extended the validity to July 31, 2019.
Mariners who are actively working on expired credentials that meet the expiration criteria must carry the expired credential with a copy of the attached letter.
This extension does not change the time frame during which a credential may be renewed.
A credential may be renewed at any time during its validity and for 1 year after expiration based on the expiration date printed on the credential.
