ENSURING THE VALIDITY OF MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIALS AND ENDORSEMENTS

Description

As a maritime employer, do you know how to verify the validity of merchant mariner credentials (MMCs) for current and prospective employees? This is an important question to consider when deciding whether to hire, promote, or discipline a merchant mariner. It is also critical step to ensure the overall safety of your maritime operations. As such, the United States Coast Guard (USCG) has implemented new control measures to ensure mariners inform their marine employer of the status of their MMC following administrative enforcement action by the USCG. For example, mariners must notify their employer of the Suspension & Revocation (S&R) enforcement action being taken against their MMC within one week of entering into a settlement agreement. While in settlement, they must also provide current employment information as well as any prospective employers to the USCG for verification purposes. Failure to make either notification will be considered a breach of the settlement agreement and subsequently trigger the USCG’s pre-settlement proposed sanction (e.g., revocation). In the past, the USCG has encountered situations in which mariners failed to disclose the status of their credential to their marine employers while in settlement and/or have continued to work under the authority of their credential while it or certain endorsements were suspended or reduced in scope. For example, the USCG has identified that multiple mariners in drug settlements sought and obtained new employment in safety-sensitive positions while their credentials were on deposit, knowing that many marine employers do not check credential validity or status during the hiring process. In another case, a mariner who submitted fraudulent training certificates to the USCG continued to serve as a master despite having their MMC reduced and endorsements removed by the National Maritime Center (NMC). Credentialed mariners are entrusted with the safety and security of commercial vessels, and the vast majority are dedicated, safety-conscious individuals who work hard to earn and maintain their professional credentials and endorsements. However, the small percentage of mariners who willingly subvert the USCG’s credentialing rules, pose a significant threat to the entire marine transportation system. I am publishing this Marine Safety Information Bulletin to highlight the importance of verifying the authenticity of all MMCs and the associated endorsements