[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 36 (Thursday, February 22, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13355-13356]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-03568]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2024-0042]


New Merchant Mariner Credential

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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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 [email protected], or to Mr. Brian Eichelberger, 
telephone 202-372-1450, email [email protected].

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 http://www.regulations.gov. To do so, go to https://www.regulations.gov, 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 https://www.dco.uscg.mil/national_maritime_center/.

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