Coast Guard Offers 120-Day Relief for Mariners Caught in Credentialing Backlog

The U.S. Coast Guard is offering temporary relief to some merchant mariners whose credentials expired while their renewal applications were caught in a processing backlog at the National Maritime Center.

Under the new policy, qualifying mariners may receive a temporary 120-day authorization allowing them to continue sailing under the national endorsements of an expired Merchant Mariner Credential while the NMC completes its evaluation.

The targeted relief comes as broader temporary credential extensions put in place earlier this year are set to expire August 31. The Coast Guard said those measures will not be extended.

Instead, the NMC is focusing the new