t opside V olume 79 , I s s u e 4 P a ge 12
Marine Safety
Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credentialing Policy Changes
Any crew member working on a commercial ship or yacht , needs STCW or “ Standards of Training , Certification and Watchkeeping .” STCW was conceived in 1978 and has been in force since April 1984 . The IMO or International Maritime Organization worldwide , and the U . S . Coast Guard , nationally , oversee the STCW .
In 2010 , the so-called “ Manila Amendments ” were adopted due to increased security awareness and development of new technologies .
Change 1 to Coast Guard Merchant Mariner Credentialling ( CG-MMC ) Letter 02- 18 , establishes guidelines for qualification of personnel seeking STCW . Endorsements for Basic and Advanced Polar Code Operations and Change 1 to CG -MMC Policy Letter 01-21 are included in the revised Guidelines for Qualifying for the SCTW .
Any crew member working on a commercial ship or yacht , needs the STCW so this affects a large number of individuals worldwide . Another aspect of the changes is the publication by the Coast Guard of Basic and Advanced IGF or Low-Flashpoint Fuels Code Operations .
A discussion of the requirements for renewal of the Basic and Advanced Polar Code Operations endorsements along with removal of transitional provisions that expired on 01 JUL 2020 are at the heart of the Coast Guard Change 1 .
A method to renew endorsement of qualified instructors of the Basic or Advanced IGF ( Low Flashpoint Fuels Code ) Operations course was introduced by Change 1 to CG-MMC Policy Letter . Additionally , the change reduces the seagoing service requirements for renewal of the STCW for Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations .
More information may be obtained by getting in touch with the Mariner Credentialling Program Policy Division at MMCPolicy @ USCG . mil or by phoning 202-372-2357 .
Information for this article was drawn from Professional Mariner Magazine and sevenseasprop . com .
Gregg Bollinger DSO
Marine Safety
Gregg R . Bollinger , Th . D . DSO-MS , D 5 NR