MaritimeLicensing.com

Good day to you all.

Well, I suppose I am going to start by saying that I am not going to Apologize for myself, I will say that I spend an awful lot of time Apologizing for items that come out of the NMC either by accident (oops, that was posted in error) or new changes that are known at NMC but they don’t or haven’t decided to inform the general public or the REC’s about.

What is this all about?  Oh Oh, there she goes again.

I’ll try to explain, I send out information to you all as soon as I get it from my sources so that you can be as up to date as possible.  Now, that doesn’t sound to bad does it?  Well, I have played this game with NMC for many years and I try to quantify my statements with “I can say for sure that this is the answer today, but I will not guarantee tomorrows answer will be the same.”  I usually say I will not guarantee that 5 minutes from now it will be the same.

Today they say the rules are this way - Tomorrow they may, and often do, change yesterdays rules to something else entirely.  Does this make me or any of the REC personnel look like we don’t know what ^#(( we are talking about?  You bet you sweet tush it does!  Does that make us angry or upset?  You bet your sweet tush it does.  Can we do anything about it?  Not only NO but ^#(( NO.  All we can do is try our level best.

I feel that is what I have been doing, I get the information from various sources and I pass it along to you.  It is your right to know what is going on.  Is it my fault that NMC changes this information after the fact?  No it is not, hence the fact that I will not apologize for myself for sending this information out to you, no matter how many times it is changed afterwards. If you have ever tried to find out information from the NMC on your own, you should realize that if you ask the same question to 4 different people back there you will get 4 different answers if you are lucky or you won’t get an answer at all.

Will I continue sending information to you?  Yup I will, for the Good, the Bad or the Ugly of it all.

Touch Keys with you later,

N.

Howdy!  Here is a zinger that I just received, I’m not sure I am happy about it, but I most certainly see the need.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - House Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation Ranking Member Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) has introduced legislation to provide immunity to U.S. merchant mariners who wound or kill pirates while responding to a pirate attack.

H.R. 2984, the “U.S. Mariner and Vessel Protection Act,” was introduced in response to the recent hijacking of the U.S.-flagged Mares Alabama by Somali pirates, during which the pirates kidnapped the ship’s captain.

The bill directs the U.S. Coast Guard to certify firearms training for merchant mariners on U.S.-flagged merchant vessels. Any trained mariner using force and the owner, operator or master of said vessels would be exempt from liability in U.S. courts as a result of that use of force.

It would also authorize the deployment of Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Teams to ride aboard and defend U.S. flagged vessels transiting pirate-infested waters. MSST are specially trained USCG personnel fully equipped in advanced weapons and other equipment that are capable of rapid deployment to successfully conduct antiterrorism operations, vertical insertions, and tactical ship operations.

The bill would further direct the United States to negotiate international agreements through the International Maritime Organization to provide similar exemptions from liability in other countries for the use of force by mariners and vessel owners, operators and masters as well as to ensure armed U.S. crews can enter foreign ports.

Touch Keys with you later.

N.

You know what, I am so glad they have set up yet another committee to over see the other 25 committees, damn, it just warms the cockles of my heart.  Now, if they would spend 1/4 of the time WORKING in stead of dancing around glad handing each other for what an outstanding job they are doing, the Mariners would not be setting in LIMBO STATUS for 6-8 months in the Medical Review Branch (MEB) at NMC.

APPLY TO BECOME A MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE!  There will be 14 members, 10 doctors and 4 (yes 4) mariners!

Touch Keys with you later,

N.

Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 110 / Wednesday, June 10, 2009 /  Notices 27557
Estimated Time Per Respondent
0.59 hours (35.4 minutes)
Total Burden Hours
210,351.7 annual burden hours
Total Burden Cost (capital/startup)
$0.00
Total Burden Cost (operating/
maintaining)
$17,669,543
Signed: June 4, 2009.
Philip Reitinger,
Deputy Under Secretary, National Protection
and Programs Directorate Department of
Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. E9–13618 Filed 6–9–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110–9P–P
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND
SECURITY
Coast Guard
[Docket No. USCG–2009–0446]
Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory
Committee; Vacancies
AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.
ACTION: Notice of committee
establishment and request for
applications.
SUMMARY: The Secretary of Homeland
Security is establishing the Merchant
Mariner Medical Advisory Committee
(MMMAC) under authority of 6 U.S.C.
451 and shall operate under the
provisions of the Federal Advisory
Committee Act (FACA) (5 U.S.C. App.).
Individuals interested in serving on this
committee are invited to apply for
membership.
DATES: Completed application forms for
membership should reach the Coast
Guard on or before August 3, 2009.
ADDRESSES: You may request a copy of
the charter for the Merchant Mariner
Medical Advisory Committee or a form
to apply for membership by writing to
Captain Eric Christensen, Designated
Federal Officer (DFO) of the Merchant
Mariner Medical Advisory Committee,
2100 SW 2nd St., Washington, DC
20593. Completed applications should
be sent to the DFO at this same address.
A copy of this notice, the Committee
charter, and the application form are
available in our online docket, USCG–
2009–0446, at http://
www.regulations.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Lieutenant J. Court Smith, Assistant
DFO of the Merchant Mariner Medical
Advisory Committee; telephone 1–202–
372–1128 or james.c.smith1@uscg.mil.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Establishment of the Merchant Mariner
Medical Advisory Committee. The
Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA), 5 U.S.C. App. (Pub. L. 92–463),
governs the establishment of committees
by Federal agencies. This committee
will be established as a discretionary
advisory committee that will operate in
accordance with the provisions of the
Federal Advisory Committee Act
(FACA) (5 U.S.C. App.) and pursuant to
the provisions of 5 U.S.C. 451. The
Committee will advise, consult with,
report to, and make recommendations to
the Secretary on matters relating to the
medical evaluation process and
evaluation criteria for medical
certification of merchant mariners. This
may include but is not limited to:
• Commenting on Physical
Qualification Requirements;
• Developing, communicating, and
considering expert based and scientific
recommendations;
• Examining such other matters,
related to those above, that the Secretary
may charge the Committee with
addressing;
• Conducting studies, inquiries,
workshops, and seminars in
consultation with individuals and
groups in the private sector and/or state
and local government jurisdictions;
• Reviewing work from other
agencies’ medical advisory boards to
recommend uniform guidelines for
medical/functional fitness for operators
of commercial vessels.
The Committee will meet at least once
a year. It may also meet for additional
purposes. Subcommittees and working
groups may also meet to consider
specific problems.
Request for Applications
The Committee will be composed of
fourteen members. Ten Committee
members shall be health-care
professionals with particular expertise,
knowledge, or experience regarding the
medical examinations of merchant
mariners or occupational medicine.
Four Committee members shall be
professional mariners with knowledge
and experience in mariners’
occupational requirements.
Initial appointments to the MMMAC
shall be for terms of office of one, two,
or three years. Thereafter, members
shall serve terms of three years.
Approximately one-third of members’
terms of office shall expire each year. A
member appointed to fill an unexpired
term shall serve the remainder of that
term. All members may serve more than
one term. In the event the MMMAC
terminates, all appointments to the
committee shall terminate.
In support of the policy of the Coast
Guard on gender and ethnic diversity,
we encourage qualified women and
members of minority groups to apply.
All members shall serve as Special
Government Employees (SGE), as
defined in section 202(a) of title 18,
United States Code. As a candidate for
appointment as an SGE, applicants are
required to complete a Confidential
Financial Disclosure Report (OGE Form
450). A completed OGE Form 450 is not
releasable to the public except under an
order issued by a Federal court or as
otherwise provided under the Privacy
Act (5 U.S.C. 552a). Only the Designated
Agency Ethics Official (DAEO) or the
DAEO’s designate may release a
Confidential Financial Disclosure
Report.
If you are interested in applying to
become a member of the Committee,
send a completed application to Captain
Eric Christensen, DFO of the MMMAC.
Send the application in time for it to be
received by the DFO on or before
August 3, 2009.
A copy of the application form is
available in the docket for this notice.
To visit our online docket, go to
http://www.regulations.gov, enter theFederal Register / Vol. 74, No. 110 / Wednesday, June 10, 2009 /
docket number for this notice USCG–
2009–0446 in the Search box, and click
‘‘Go >>.’’ Applicants may also request
an application form via fax at 1–202–
372–1918.
Dated: June 3, 2009.
J. A. Watson,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Director,
Prevention Policy.
[FR Doc. E9–13634 Filed 6–9–09; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–15–P

Good day to you:

Here is a problem that has come to light and that I feel to be very important information for you to pass along to everyone.  During the past several weeks I have run up against this problem on multiple occasions and you all need to be aware of delays that it has and is causing.

Make sure that you tell your people that when they make their application with TSA to apply for their TWIC card that they identify their occupation as a MERCHANT MARINER.  If this is not done then the information gathered at TSA WILL NOT BE SHARED WITH THE COAST GUARD.

I believe this is how it is supposed to work.

1. The mariner contacts TSA to make an application for their TWIC.
2. If the mariner does NOT state on the application that their occupation is that of a ‘MERCHANT MARINER’ the information goes nowhere except within the TSA system.  The TWIC card will be issued if all is cleared through TSA.
3. If the information from TSA is not forwarded to the NMC then the mariners application is suspended awaiting additional information, because they (NMC) have no information from TSA.  This is causing major problems for the mariner.  Even if the mariner sends in a copy of their TWIC, the NMC won’t accept it because TSA has not released the information needed to them.
4. Because NMC does not have this information, the mariners application has been placed into a “suspended” status until this information has been received, will cause the application process to be delayed 10-12 weeks before it goes to an evaluator.This 10-12 weeks, added to an application that has been at the NMC for 4-8 weeks already, awaiting clearance from the Medical Evaluation Branch and then waiting again for assignment to an evaluator is a devastating set back for mariners wanting to renew or to get an original MMC issued.
   

So, I am strongly suggesting that you please tell your people that if they have recently made application for their TWIC to contact TSA either via telephone or the website and change their Occupation to ‘MERCHANT MARINER’ (if they have not already done so), and then request that TSA forward the information to the CG as quickly as possible.  I believe this should be done for anyone who has had a TWIC issued within the past 4 months as well.  This is especially necessary if the mariner has made an application to NMC for an original or renewal within this time frame and has not received their new MMC.

Here is hoping this information will not be necessary for you to deal with, but it is better to be pro-active than re-active.

Touch Keys with you later,

N.

Hi everyone, it’s been a long time and this time I am not on my soap box.

I had someone ask me today if my “Package Preparation” service was really necessary.

He asked; “Can’t I just put the stuff together my self?” OF COURSE you can put it together for your self!

Do any of you need my services?  NO, of course not.  You can spend the time looking up all of the regulations on your own; you can research on the CG website; the MSM; the CFR’s; the NVIC’s, the Policy Letters; and the U. S. Code to find everything that is necessary for you to have when apply for your MMC.

However, from a business stand point my services are, invaluable, what else can I say.   I am selling my knowledge and expertise at a more than reasonable price and I will work for you with NMC should the need arise using my “Third Party” Durable Power of Attorney and I also guarantee my work or your money back.

Remember, the choice is ALWAYS yours to make.

Touch Keys with you later,

N.

OK, I am up on my soap box again and I am hopping mad (have your ever seen a short little Norwegian when they are mad?  Believe me, it does not make for a pretty picture).  I am tired of Apologizing for NMC’s SCREW UPS.  I don’t work for NMC, I didn’t make the SCREW UPS they did, I did my job correctly,  so why should I apologize to my customers for them?  Simply put, it’s because I give a damn.

Let me just quantify, that in my estimation, NMC is severely BROKEN and definitely in need of an attitude adjustment.  A good swift kick in the knickers wouldn’t hurt either.

Case in point, new requirements are poring out of NMC on a regular basis because of a whim, not a regulation change.  Have any of you heard of “Fitness for Duty Report”?  If you haven’t, this appears to be the newest “whim”.  I have spent many hours trying to find where NMC’s website, the Policy Letters, the CFR’s, the MSM or anywhere else that I can think of might talk about requiring a “Fitness for Duty Report” when submitting an application.  I, of course, could be blind.  If I am not mistaken, this is something new from somebody who is new and just decided arbitrarily to want this.  Perhaps it is a CYA thing, especially since NMC can’t seem to follow their own written requirements.

It seems that if you have answered yes to any question on the back of your application, stand by because it appears that this “Fitness for Duty Report” will be required.  I am hoping that my customer was merely a “one of a kind” incident, but it scares the Hell out of me that this kind of “whim” will happen again and will probably happen on other things as well.  My customer submitted everything that was required under 46 CFR 10.201(j) and was told by NMC that it was all tossed out and he had to re-submit a written request for “Reconsideration” plus everything he had already submitted plus this “Fitness for Duty Report”.  BULL PUCKY!  My customer now has to wait an ADDITIONAL 6-8 weeks for his application to be evaluated and issued.  DOUBLE BULL PUCKY!

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am going to say this again and probably again in the future, but it needs to be said and you need to do.

When you run into an injustice in the licensing procedures as above (I am not talking about the fact that you are short of sea service or don’t have the proper STCW requirements), I’m talking about having to wait 6-8-10 weeks or more to receive your Original License, Your Renewal or your Endorsement.  This is APPALLING, and TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.

If you do not tell an errant child that they have done something wrong, how will they know to correct the action in the future?  They will continue thinking they have done nothing wrong because you haven’t told them it’s wrong.

GET OFF YOUR DUFF’S and contact your Congress person, your State Representative and your state Senators and let them know that there are multiple PROBLEMS in NMC.   They can’t FIX WHAT IS BROKEN if they don’t know it’s broken.

It has become increasingly obvious to me that NMC does not care a rats rip about the mariner, or the burdens being placed upon them.  Customer Service?  Ha, I don’t believe NMC knows how to spell it let alone how to do it.

I have heard through the grape vine (and of course I cannot confirm it), that a certain Captain at NMC was over heard saying that NMC does NOT want to deal directly with the mariner at any level.  Lord help the Marine Industry if that statement is true.

MY OPINION:  Get the Coast Guard COMPLETELY OUT OF LICENSING, they have messed with it up long enough.

My blood pressure is still up, but I am climbing down off the soap box now.

Touch Keys with you Later,

N.

Hi all and Happy Easter to you.

Here is something that came from NMC that you should be aware of.  If you need more information go the the website they have listed.  There are lots of new things up there that you should be aware of as it will have an effect on how things are going to be done in the future.

Touch Keys with you later,

N.

Important – Limited Capabilities at the National Maritime Center & Regional Examination Centers on Friday April 17, 2009
On Monday April 20, 2009 the U. S. Coast Guard will begin producing and issuing the new consolidated merchant mariner credential. This new style credential is the replacement of our current license, certificate of registry, merchant mariner’s document and STCW endorsement.
In order to execute this credential change, we must take our Merchant Mariner Licensing and Documentation (MMLD) web-based system off-line for a massive software update and testing period. Commencing at 6:00 AM on Friday April 17, 2009 MMLD will be shut down for a period of three days for this necessary process. During this time, mariners will experience some disruptions to normal services listed below:
?
APPLICATION STATUS CHECKS: The Mariner Information Call Center (1-888-IASKNMC) and local REC staffs will not have access to the merchant mariner database and will not be able to provide information regarding application status.
?
EXAMINATIONS: Mariners desiring to take an examination on Friday, April 17, 2009 are strongly encouraged to contact an REC as soon as possible to make necessary preparations and have the examinations prepared prior to April 17th. To schedule an examination, please visit http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/rec_information.asp.
We expect these services to be restored by Monday morning, April 20th. Additional information bulletins have been posted on our website regarding the new consolidated MMC and its associated rule.
Sincerely,
D. C. STALFORT
Captain, U. S. Coast Guard
Commanding Officer

Hi all, here is one of the latest additions to the NMC website, which, if you have not seen, you really should check out.

I should have my “Notary” soon so keep that in mind.

Touch Keys with you later,

N.

March 26, 2009

Mailing Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) Applications to Regional Exam Centers

Under the provisions of the new Merchant Mariner Credential regulations, which will become effective April 15, 2009, mariners will be able to submit credential applications by mail to one of the 17 Regional Examination Centers (REC) located throughout the nation and will no longer need to appear at an REC. This will save mariners time and money. This bulletin provides information on how to mail MMC applications to an REC.

One of the many benefits of the new regulation is the ability for mariners to mail an application to an REC. After April 15, 2009, mariners will no longer be required to appear in-person at a Regional Examination Center (REC) to be fingerprinted, provide proof of identity and submit an application for a credential, so long as they have either applied for a Transportation Workers Identification Card (TWIC) at one of 149 TWIC Enrollment Centers or have already been issued a TWIC. As part of the (TWIC) enrollment process, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) will have already verified a mariner’s identity and taken fingerprints and photograph, which will be sent to the Coast Guard electronically for use in processing the MMC application.

Mailing applications to an REC. To assist you in better preparing an application package for submission to an REC, please follow the instructions below.

Step 1 – Meet the professional requirements. Prior to submitting an application, you should ensure you meet the professional requirements for the credential you are seeking. These requirements include service experience and training, among others.

Step 2 - Obtain a TWIC. Ensure you have either applied for a TWIC at an enrollment center or that you already hold a TWIC issued by TSA. Please see our information bulletin on the requirements for a TWIC, which we published on February 12, 2009.

Step 3 – Assemble your application package. Use the Application Acceptance Checklist to assemble your application package. Using this checklist will help ensure that your application package is ‘Ready to be Evaluated’ in accordance with the new MMC regulations and will speed up processing time.

Step 4 – Pay user fees. To further streamline the application process, mariners are encouraged to pay user fees on-line using https://www.pay.gov. The Coast Guard is currently working with the U. S. Department of the Treasury to update this system to reflect the new MMC fee schedule. A copy of your payment receipt should be included with your application. The MMC Final Rule changed the user fees, providing savings for some mariners.

Step 5 – Mail your application package to an REC. After April 15, 2009, you can mail your application to one of the 17 RECs. The mailing address for the RECs, can be found on our website at http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/rec_information.asp, along with other information. Please do not mail your application to the National Maritime Center (NMC) directly as this will cause significant delays in the processing of your application.

Appointments can be made at an REC should you wish to submit your application to an REC in person. Original applicants, please see additional important information on the next page.

Additional important information for original applicants:

o Oaths for original applicants: The MMC rule allows for two options for the Oath to be administered depending on how you choose to submit your application.

1) If you submit your original application to an REC in person, Coast Guard personnel at the REC will administer the oath.

2) If you mail your original application to an REC, any person legally permitted to administer oaths in the jurisdiction where you reside may administer the oath. In this case, simply have a notary administer the oath and sign section VI of the application (CG Form 719B) in lieu of a designated Coast Guard official before you mail it to an REC. The Oath is only required for issuance of an Original MMC.

Original MMCs are only those issued to mariners who have not previously held a mariner credential. We will also post a sample form on the website that may be used in lieu of section VI of the 719B.

The provisions in the new Merchant Mariner Credential regulations will provide many benefits to the mariner. Mariners will no longer have to appear at an REC to submit provide fingerprints and proof of identity. Mariners can also be able to pay user fees on line. Original applicants will now have an alternative means for administering the oath.

Sincerely,

David C. Stalfort

Captain, U. S. Coast Guard

Hello all;

Yes, I am back at it.  NMC and TSA has again changed the face of the local REC and the way they are to do business.  If you have been wondering how the TWIC card would  affect you, well here is number 1.

As of APRIL 15, 2009, the Coast Guard Regional Examination Centers will no longer be taking fingerprints.

AS OF APRIL 15, 2009, the Coast Guard will not accept your application for anything unless you provide one of the following. 

1. Your TWIC CARD or
2. PROOF THAT YOU HAVE MADE APPLICATION FOR A TWIC.

Don’t forget that you must now make on-line appointments with the REC’s to submit your paperwork at http://uscg.mil/nmc/rec_information.asp  Remember also, that walk-ins are accepted, however, the REC staff will work first with the appointments and walk-ins last, so you could be in for a long wait and possibly not be helped at all.  You can also try calling the REC of your choice to make an appointment, I can’t promise you will get through, but you can try.
Touch Keys with you later,

N.

Hey all,

I think it is time to help our Country out and give our leaders positive feed back and an alternative “Plan of Action”.  Our President is struggling to fix a huge problem and he has only been able to stretch a small band aid over a gigantic wound, so here is one of many solutions that we should pass along to our representatives.  It is no worse than some of the solutions we have been hearing coming off the “Hill”, and from an economic stand point, it sounds to be a pretty CHEAP and almost immediate fix.

This little bit was posted in the business section of a prominent newspaper and I thought it was awesome.  They polled their readers and asked them for possible solutions to our national problem.  Here is just one of the responses.  All of them were excellent, but this one really grabbed me as being short, sweet and to the point.

Touch Keys with you Later and remember, keep smiling.

N.

Dear Mr. President,
Patriotic Retirement Act:

There’s about 40 million people over the age of 50 in the work force; pay them $1 million apiece severance, tax free, and with all medical benefits but with three stipulations:

1) They leave their jobs.     Forty million instant job openings - Unemployment fixed.
2) They buy NEW American cars. Forty million cars ordered - Auto Industry fixed.
3) They either buy a house or pay off their current mortgage- Housing Crisis fixed.

All National financial problems fixed!!!