THE NEW PROCESS-GET READY TO RENEW WAY AHEAD OF TIME!!!

As we approach the new year, the world of mariner licensing continues to "evolve" with the re-structuring of the Coast Guard's merchant mariner credentialing process.  As most of you know, as of last September ALL applications are now sent to the National Maritime Center (NMC) for evaluation and issuance.  Currently the Regional Examination Centers (RECs) are where you start the process by going there to verify your identity.  They will then forward your application to NMC. They can no longer evaluate or issue any credentials to mariners.  

For those who don't know, I was the former REC Chief in Boston from 1998 until August of 2006.  During that period, I was a witness to three "plans" to "fix" the licensing program.   All of them were spured on by the fact that the program (on a National level) was broken.   Inconsistancies between RECs, long delays, lost applications, incorrect decisions, and poor customer service were just some of the reasons that were stated for fixing this program.   The mariner licensing activity fell under the Marine Safety branch of the Coast Guard.  And within that branch of the Coast Guard, licensing was not a popular function for Coast Guard personnel.  In effect it was a place that officers and petty officers were assigned because they were either incompetent at other missions or they were sent there to try and fix the RECs.  Neither of which usually produced positive results.

However, in Boston and some other RECs (Seattle and Houston), this was NOT the case.  In Boston, mariners always had the chance to submit their application and have it reviewed while they waited, usually with the evaluator in person.  There is no more efficient process that can be designed.  I could spend hours detailing why meeting with your evaluator in person is the absolute best way to start the process.  Those of you who have your files in Boston will know what I am talking about and how this was the best way to ensure that your application was complete and everyone understood what you were asking for. 

In my time at the REC I often tried to push this process up the Chain of Command to the NMC to have them recommend this for all RECs.  While each REC had it's own system and nuances, based on the mariner population it served, customer service is something that COULD have been standardized.   It was a seemingly simple "fix" for a program in disarray.  Of course other areas needed (and still do) to be fixed, such as re-writing the regulations to catch up to the international treaties (STCW).   The process of regulating by Policy or email must also end!  These must be done at the Headquarters level and could be used to "standardize" the evaluation process. 

The Coast Guard's answer to this problem was to completely re-structure the program so that ALL credentials are issued out of one location.  However, in doing so, it has taken on the task of reviewing every application in the country and it can be stated that it is not working.  I have spoken to several mariners who have been told that it will take 8-12 weeks before their application is even looked at.  This is EXACTLY the reason they wanted to "fix" this program!   I am working with one mariner in particular who has been denied for 10 years for a condition that would have been approved before.  Although we may have this reversed on appeal, it shows how much NMC is out of touch with the merchant marines.  

Part of their thinking in going forward with this process was that those in the RECs would move to West Virginia and work there.  This, as usual, is very poor planning on their part and certainly did not come true.  There may be a few folks at NMC who worked in RECs in the past, but almost all of the REC Chiefs and senior evaluators in the field chose to stay in their homes.  All of that corporate knowledge gone!

The bottom line for mariners is this.  Get your application ready to go WAY ahead of the expiration date of your license or MMD.  You can legally apply to renew up to 12 months BEFORE your credentials expire.  Don't wait until the last minute or you will be out of luck and there's nothing that anyone at the local REC can do for you!!  IF you have any medical or criminal record issues, the best thing you can do is talk to a licensing consultant to see what you need to do.  I have dealt with thousands of mariners, both in my time in the Coast Guard and since leaving, that have these issues and it can take a long time to gather all of the information needed.  Stay on top of your expiration dates and be prepared!!!