The US Coast Guard announced its proposal to revise its merchant mariner credentialing regulations to remove out of date portions of the radar observer requirements and harmonize the radar observer endorsement with the merchant mariner credential.
With this new proposed rule, an active mariner who serves in a relevant position for one year in the previous 5 years using radar for navigation and collision avoidance purposes on ships equipped with radar, or has served as a qualified instructor for a US Coast Guard-approved radar course at least two times within the past 5 years, would not be required to complete a Coast Guard-approved radar refresher or re-certification course to renew his or her radar observer endorsement.
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This rule would not change the current requirements for mariners seeking an original radar observer endorsement or mariners who don’t have either one year of relevant sea service on board radar-equipped vessels in the previous 5 years or service as a qualified instructor for a Coast Guard-approved radar course at least twice within the past 5 years.
Elimination of the requirement to take a radar refresher or re-certification course every 5 years would reduce burden on affected mariners without impacting safety.
You can see more information here
