MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIALING Captain Jeffrey P. Novotny Commanding Officer USCG National Maritime Center
2 The National Maritime Center s Mission: Issue professional credentials to mariners who are fully compliant with current regulations, in the most effective and efficient manner possible.
3 Recent updates Recently hired new Regional Exam Center (REC) Chiefs in Oakland, CA, Seattle, WA, and St. Louis, MO. New NMC-1 Division Chief New Medical Staff REC Guam reopened. An update to NMC s Pay.gov website was released on February 1, 2016.
4 2015 Year in Review Production Statistics Update on Medical Certificates New Credentialing Application Forms New Credential Printers New Merchant Mariner Credentials Information Bulletins & Website update
5 MMC Application Inventory
6 MMC Net Processing Time (NPT) NPT: Coast Guard Time Current NPT (days): 16.09 NPT Goal: 30 days or less
7 Medical Certificates NMC has issued 190,000 medical certificates. March 24, 2019 - all mariners must hold a valid medical certificate. IAW NVIC 01-14, mariners serving on vessels that only sail national waters should apply for a medical certificate upon their next MMC transaction that requires a physical. Mariners with certain medical conditions may receive a time limited certificate. These mariners will receive a waiver letter but the letter no longer needs to be signed and returned.
8 Current Medical Certificate Inventory
9 Current Medical Certificate Net Processing Time (NPT) NPT: Coast Guard Time Current NPT: 12.83 NPT Goal: 20 days or less
10 New CG-719 Forms October 1, 2015 New forms based on customer feedback & recommendations from MERPAC & MMMAC Better format & instructions PDF-fillable (use is strongly encouraged) Has helped reduce applicant, physician confusion & AI letters Medical conditions list is based on risk factors (reduced from 88 to 34) New CG-719C (used to report convictions & drug use) CG-719K & K/E Titled Application for Merchant Mariner Medical Certificate The previous form CG-719K Rev (01-09) will still be accepted, but the new form is preferred.
11 CG-719B Clarified Increase in applications being sent directly to the NMC and other CG Offices. Applications should be sent directly to the RECs. Confusion due to note on application for U.S. Great Lakes Registered Pilots. Only those applying for U.S. Registered Pilot Certificate for the Great Lakes should send their application to USCG Headquarters.
MMC Production Improvements Recently acquired self contained credential printers Reduces production time Increased Quality Control Higher quality laminate Improved print quality Significant materials cost reduction
MMC Booklet Replacement Transition to improved MMC booklet Mid-March Will use an improved laminate Pages contain images of nautical significance Expanded print area for Endorsement pages
14 Improving Service to the Mariner: Live Chat Online chatting tool released in July 2015. Facilitates immediate live contact with NMC Customer Service team for mariners without access to phone. Accounts for approximately 7-10% of contact volume Average wait time to speak with a representative is 10 seconds. Total contacts for December: 24,035 Live Chat and Tickets for December: 2,082
15 Military to Mariner Efforts Outreach Approved courses/programs Website Credentialing, Certification & Licensing Workgroup (CCLWG)
16 Transparent Communications Information bulletins Website Updates (~1,200,000 hits in 2015) Continued unit visits, calls & industry sessions to discuss issues, feedback & recommendations RECs are your local experts (Active Engagement w/industry)
17 COUNT-DOWN TO COMPLIANCE! For those serving on vessels subject to STCW - compliance of January 1, 2017 rapidly approaching New requirements and gap-closing requirements can be found in the following: New regulation NVICs & policy - particularly NVIC 02-14 on grandfathering and transitional provisions NMC website - see bulletin on STCW Gap-Closing Requirements from March 2015
18 Questions or Concerns Questions specific to individual applications: IASKNMC@uscg.mil or 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662) Questions specific to the final rule: STCWASK@uscg.mil Questions/Feedback on NVICs/Policy: MMCPolicy@uscg.mil
MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIALING Captain Jeffrey P. Novotny Commanding Officer USCG National Maritime Center 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662) iasknmc@uscg.mil
20 Background Slides
21 Commercial Vessel Compliance (CG-CVC) Captain Kyle McAvoy Mariner Credentialing Program Policy Division (CG-CVC-4) Mr. Luke Harden Commanding Officer Captain Jeffrey P. Novotny Deputy Director Mr. Ike Eisentrout Operating & Environmental Standards (CG-OES) Captain Scott Kelly Maritime Personnel Qualifications Division (CG-OES-1) Ms. Mayte Medina Policy and Standards Program Requirements Final Action on Appeals STCW Oversight Performance Oversight Public Outreach International Standards, IMO and ILO MERPAC and TSAC Domestic Standards, Regulations and Guidance Public Outreach Operations & Oversight Division NMC-1 Training & Assessment Div NMC-2 Program Support Division NMC-3 Mariner Information Division NMC-4 Mariner Evaluation Division NMC-5 Medical Evaluation Division NMC-6 Manage Regional Examination Center (REC) Operations Administer Mariner Examinations (REC) CG Approved Course Oversight/Audits (REC) 'Ready to be Evaluated' Credential Application Reviews Process and Data Performance Analysis/Metrics Manage/Audit Mariner Credentialing Program Mission Mgmt System Approve Training Programs Approve Training Courses Develop Training Standards Develop Exam Questions Develop Exam Illustrations Maintain Exam Results Approve Instructors, Assessors and Designated Examiners Maintain/Update Exam Guides Evaluate Exam Protests Financial Management Contracts Administration Procurement Supplies (NMC & RECs) Asset & Property Mgmt Staffing and Personnel Allowance Personnel Management Administrative Management Physical and Personnel Security Facility Management Project Management IT and Communications Infrastructure Support Application Preparation Mariner Info Support Records Maintenance Credential Production Work Flow System Mgmt Website FOIA Requests Congressional Inquiries DD214 Issuance (WWII Merchant Mariner Veterans Only) Certificates of Discharge General Correspondence Credential Verification Customer Service Center Safety and Suitability Background Screening Professional Qualification Evaluations Critical Error Processing Reconsiderations/Appeals and Denials Referrals for S&R Actions Technical Review of Draft Regulations/Policy Develop/Implement MMS Processes Maritime Academy Liaison Evaluator Training Technical Support Medical Evaluations Medical Waivers Reconsiderations/Appeals & Denials Referrals for S & R Actions Periodic Physicals
22 December 24, 2013 Final Rule Amendments to the International Convention of Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978, and Changes to National Endorsements (Final Rule) Effective dates: January 24, 2014 for medical certificates March 24, 2014 - for everything else Compliance dates: March 24, 2019 - National endorsements & courses January 1, 2017 - STCW endorsements & courses