Notice2024-03568
New Merchant Mariner Credential
Primary source
Metadata and text below are from the Federal Register, a public-domain U.S. government work. Always verify the official published version before relying on it for any legal matter.
Published
February 22, 2024
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentCoast Guard
Abstract
The Coast Guard announces the availability of a new style of Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) for review. The new style of MMC is replacing the current passport-style MMC. The new MMC will be implemented on March 1, 2024. Issuance of the passport-style MMC will be discontinued on the same date. Passport-style MMCs will remain valid through their expiration date. The Coast Guard has included an example of the new MMC in this docket for review. The Coast Guard will continue to produce mariner medical certificates in their current format.
Full Text
<html>
<head>
<title>Federal Register, Volume 89 Issue 36 (Thursday, February 22, 2024)</title>
</head>
<body><pre>
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 36 (Thursday, February 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13355-13356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03568]
=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG-2024-0042]
New Merchant Mariner Credential
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of a new style of
Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) for review. The new style of MMC is
replacing the current passport-style MMC. The new MMC will be
implemented on March 1, 2024. Issuance of the passport-style MMC will
be discontinued on the same date. Passport-style MMCs will remain valid
through their expiration date. The Coast Guard has included an example
of the new MMC in this docket for review. The Coast Guard will continue
to produce mariner medical certificates in their current format.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For additional information about this
document, questions may be directed to Mr. Charles Bright, U.S. Coast
Guard Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing, telephone 202-372-1046,
email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#4f0c272e3d232a3c6105610d3d2628273b0f3a3c2c2861222623"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="21624940534d44520f6b0f63534846495561545242460f4c484d">[email protected]</span></a>, or to Mr. Brian Eichelberger,
telephone 202-372-1450, email <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#e8aa9a818986c6bcc6ad818b808d848a8d9a8f8d9aa89d9b8b8fc6858184"><span class="__cf_email__" data-cfemail="5416263d353a7a007a113d373c313836312633312614212737337a393d38">[email protected]</span></a>.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Viewing Material in the Docket
To view documents mentioned in this notice as being available in
the docket, go to the Federal Decision-Making Portal at <a href="http://www.regulations.gov">http://www.regulations.gov</a>. To do so, go to <a href="https://www.regulations.gov">https://www.regulations.gov</a>, type
USCG-2024-0042 in the search box and click ``Search.'' Next, look for
this document in the Search Results column, and click on it. Select
``Supporting & Related Material'' in the Document Type column.
The new credential may also be viewed on the U.S. Coast Guard
National Maritime Center website at <a href="https://www.dco.uscg.mil/national_maritime_center/">https://www.dco.uscg.mil/national_maritime_center/</a>.
Discussion
The Coast Guard is issuing this notice of an update to the format
of the Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) by replacing the current
passport-style MMC. The passport-style MMC was designed for the Coast
Guard mariner credentialing program and is produced by the Coast Guard
National Maritime Center (NMC) using specialty printers. These printers
have been in use since 2015. They have reached the end of their
lifecycles, and replacements are not readily available. The passport-
style MMC requires printing on multiple pages to provide the requisite
mariner information and endorsements. As noted, printing capabilities
for the current passport-style MMC have diminished and, at times,
creates production delays and backlogs in issuing MMCs to mariners.
To avoid future printing delays and production backlogs, the Coast
Guard will implement a new MMC format and printing process. The new MMC
is a single, two-sided page produced on synthetic paper with embedded
security features. It is printed using readily available commercial
printers. The paper is also tear and water resistant. A sample of the
new credential is provided in this docket as described under the
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION portion of this notice. A document providing
a more detailed overview of the individual sections and features of the
new credential is also included in the docket.
[[Page 13356]]
The earliest implementation date for the new credential is March 1,
2024. We will notify the industry via the NMC website if the date
changes due to unforeseen issues. The current passport-style MMC will
not be immediately replaced for all mariners. Instead, the new
credential will be issued during their next credential transaction.
Mariners should not request a new MMC unless their current one is lost,
damaged, or nearing expiration.
In the future, the Coast Guard intends to implement an
electronically issued MMC that meets domestic and international
requirements. In addition to the electronic credential, the Coast Guard
anticipates maintaining some printing options to support the mariners
and maritime industry needs.
This notice is issued under authority of title 46 of the United
States Code (U.S.C.), sections 2104, 7101, and 7302.
Dated: February 16, 2024.
J.G. Lantz,
Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards, U.S. Coast Guard.
[FR Doc. 2024-03568 Filed 2-21-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P
</pre><script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script></body>
</html>Indexed from Federal Register on February 22, 2024.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.