I AM SO PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN - THANK YOU ALL !

If you get a chance, please look at this and I hope you feel the same way I do.

http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/cities/moving-documentary-of-911-evacuation-by-boat-shows-resilience-of-cities/881?tag=nl.e660

Touch Keys with you later,

N.

See Federal Register/Vol. 76, No. 168/Tuesday, August 30, 2011/Notices  Page 53924/53925

Announcements

Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee

The Coast Guard announced the first Merchant Mariner Medical Advisory Committee (MMMAC) meeting in the Federal Register.

The Meeting is scheduled for September 19-21 in Easton, Maryland at Marine Engineers Beneficial Association.

Click here for details - Federal Register notice.

To view archive announcements and reports please click here.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact us through email at IASKNMC.

Touch Keys with you later,

N.

Hello to you all;

I have a blinding head ache and my blood pressure is so high at this moment that I am surprised I have not had a stroke.  SO IT IS TIME FOR MY SOAP BOX - AGAIN!

I have a client who was sent a “letter” from NMC’s MEB Branch stating that Mr. B needed additional information pertaining to his physical.  No problem, inconvenient for Mr. B but Ok.  In this letter it stated that he had “CHRONIC ATRIAL FIBRILLATION” more information was needed. Mr. B does not nor has he ever had any history of heart problems.

Here is the kicker, we pointed that out to the NMC-MEB and they sent us a request to “disregard” this as it was placed in his letter in error.  ERROR, of for heavens sake, Mr. B was and is livid but not as much as I am.  We sent all of the OTHER required information to the MEB and this morning I received a telephone call from the evaluator.  Asking me to once again look at the physical that I had submitted and note that on page such and such it states quite clearly that Mr. B does indeed have “CHRONIC ATRIAL FIBRILLATION”.  I looked at that page while she was on the telephone and low and behold, what she was looking at was a COPY OF NVIC-04-08, with EXAMPLES, that Mr. B had included with his package and I had just left in there when I submitted his application.  You can bet your booties that I will strip every package in the future of anything that is not EXACTLY what is called for in the application.

I want to apologize to Mr. B for allowing this to happen on my watch.  BUTTTTTTT - I also want to point out that even an iD10T should have been able to figure out that it was a copy of the NVIC and not part of the 9 page physical. 

Thanks for listening,

Touch Keys with you later,

N.

Hi all,

It appears it is time once again for my SOAP BOX.

I have a friend who is an instructor for a well known school and who’s license was do for renewal.  Ok, no problem right?  It has now been 6 weeks and guess what still no renewal.  History of events.

• He made application on his own (how simple should that be) for Renewal - Increase in Tonnage from 50 to 100 -Increase in Waters from Inland to Near Coastal (this is a very simple application and should have been completed and his MMC issued within days)
• He mailed it into the local REC (no problem)
• The Local REC forwarded his application to NMC (still no problem)
• NMC Received his application (no problem)
• Evaluator got the application to process AND THAT IS WHEN THE PROBLEMS BEGAN!
• Captain P sent in 520 days on near coastal waters and this should, without a doubt, qualified him for master near coastal according to 46 CFR 11.428
• Captain P sent 180 days on vessels over 51 GRT, which should have raised his tonnage to 100 GRT without a doubt, according to 46 CFR 11.422
• Evaluator worked on this problem and sent him a letter stating that he did not qualify for the near coastal because he needed 720 days (Hey Ditz, look at his file and ALL of his sea service)
• Captain P questioned this and asked for a re-evaluation
• After 2 weeks, Evaluator sent another letter stating he did not qualify for the near coastal quoting 46 CFR 11.422 (please read this CFR cite and tell me what in the hell this has to do with raising your tonnage?)
• Then the Evaluator stated he needed an additional 24 days on vessels over 34 GRT to qualify for the 100 GRT - Captain P had already sent in 180 days on over 51 GRT
• The Evaluator sent him another letter stating that his application had been re-evaluated and that he was not qualified for QMED.  HE DIDN’T EVEN APPLY FOR QMED for crying out load.
• Captain P, after may attempts to contact said evaluator via telephone and e-mail, got through (Oh happy days)
• The evaluator apologized for the paragraph in the letter concerning his QMED and said that it was an over sight on their part and it is very difficult to keep all of the evaluations straight.  OH MY GOD!  If he didn’t qualify for 100 GRT or QMED WHO’ S FILE WERE THEY LOOKING AT TO BEGIN WITH?
• The time has now been 5 weeks for this evaluation
• Captain P, spoke to said evaluator and was totally dumbfounded at the INEPTITUDE of this individual.  This evaluator LITERALLY DID NOT KNOW about 46 CFR 11.428 (master near coastal) so Captain P, literally had to TRAIN his evaluator on what the regulations are.
• His Evaluator said they would take another look at everything and get back to him by the end of the week, making this 6 weeks.

Captain P has spoken to his Senator’s office and has a letter written to be sent to them no matter the outcome of this. Captain P’s approach to this has been stellar and he has kept his temper in check, BUT, he must follow through and let his Senator know just how many jobs and how much income he has lost because of the INEPTITUDE of just this one evaluator, (think about all of the other evaluators who are doing the same thing to you).  The Senators, Congressmen and Representatives cannot help correct the problems at NMC unless they are made aware of the situation.

THIS IS YOUR LIVELIHOOD THAT NMC IS MUCKING ABOUT WITH.  BUT IF YOU DON’T CARE, DON’T SHARE.

Ok down off my soap box now, until later.  I deal with this sort of thing everyday but you should not have to.

Touch Keys with you later,

N.

Hey all, how are you?  Hope all is well with you.

Please go to the NMC website and look at the document titled New Format for Deck / Engine Examination Guide dated July 2011.  This is helpful when preparing to test for a license or document rating.  Their website is http://www.uscg.mil/nmc but y’all already knew that didn’t ya.

Touch Keys with you later,

N.

 Here is the latest information from NMC.

Description

The US Coast Guard Homepage now has a direct link to the

NMC’s webpage - visit www.uscg.mil and

click on the Merchant Mariner Credentialing icon

at the bottom of the page.

The National Maritime Center

www.uscg.mil/nmc

Hello everyone,

Here is the latest and greatest from NMC on getting Entry Level Ratings on your MMC’s that was just sent out.  Please go to the CG Website ( http://www.uscg.mil/nmc ) and look for the latest posting titled;

MERCHANT MARINER CREDENTIAL (MMD) APPLICATIONS FOR THE RATING OF STEWARD’S DEPARTMENT (F.H.)

Basically what it says is that in order to qualify for a rating as Food Handler (F.H.) one must have a statement from a doctor, in conjunction with their physical, that states that the mariner is free of “Communicable Diseases”.

You can still get Steward’s Department put on your MMC but not Food Handler (F.H.) unless you have the statement from the Doctor.

Touch Keys with you later.

N.

Here is something that came out of NMC this morning that if of interest to those mariners holding Towing Licenses upon Western Rivers “Restricted from Transiting Locks”

October 28, 2010
Mate (Pilot) or Master of Towing Vessels upon Western Rivers
* Restricted from Transiting Locks*
The Coast Guard recognizes that many mariners have years of experience on towing vessels operating upon Western Rivers yet never navigate on any portion of the Western Rivers requiring the transiting of locks. Additionally, new mariners in training on towing vessels may be employed by companies not engaged in operations which necessitate the transiting of locks. In order to allow these mariners to continue advancement of their maritime career, the Coast Guard has established two towing vessel officer endorsements limited to operations on Western Rivers in which the transiting of locks is not applicable. The two new officer endorsements are Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels upon Western Rivers – Restricted from Transiting Locks and Master of Towing Vessels upon Western Rivers – Restricted from Transiting Locks.
The professional requirements to advance from Apprentice Mate (Steersman) upon Western Rivers, to Mate (Pilot) and eventually to Master of towing with regards to sea service, physical examination, drug testing and, if applicable, examination(s), have not changed. All applicants must submit an application with a completed Towing Officer Assessment Record (TOAR) for Western Rivers signed by an NMC approved Designated Examiner with the exception of the four maneuvering elements involving locks:
• D.16 Enter lock with upstream approach
• D.17 Enter lock with downstream approach
• D.18 Leave lock with upstream departure
• D.19 Leave lock with downstream departure
Mariners holding Mate or Master of inspected vessels greater than 200 gross registered tons; may apply for Mate (Pilot) or Master of Towing Vessel upon Western Rivers - Restricted from Transiting Locks, by obtaining 90 days training and observation on Western Rivers and completing the limited TOAR.
Please contact the National Maritime Center at 1-888-427-5662 or via e-mail IASKNMC@USCG.MIL with questions.

Touch Keys with you later

N.

Hello everyone,

I know you are all aware of this new change but I thought a quick reminder would be good.  I have a couple of questions into NMC asking if there will be a grandfathering date or if there will be a new drug testing form (719P), or exactly what wording they want the companies to use now, or, or, or?  I’ll keep you posted as to their answers should they deem me important enough to answer.

  

On August 16, 2010, DOT published a final rule which will go into effect on October 1, 2010.  This rule affects anyone in a random drug testing program mandated by the US Coast Guard.

The new regulation adds MDMA ­ known on the street as Ecstasy ­ to the list of drugs screened for in DOT mandated drug tests.  For initial tests, the agency lowered the cutoff levels for detecting the
presence of cocaine and amphetamines, and heroin was added to the list.  Initial tests are the first tests done on samples.  If a sample shows positive results for illegal drugs, it is then put through a confirmation test.
Drugs that will be screened for once the regulation goes into effect include:
€       Marijuana
€       Cocaine
€       Opiate metabolites of codeine and/or morphine
€       6-Acetylmorphine, which is heroin
€       Phencyclidine, commonly referred to as PCP
€       Amphetamines of AMP and/or MAMP, such as speed
€       MDMA, street name Ecstasy

Beginning October 1, any USCG mandated drug tests will automatically incorporate the new regulations.  There are no additional actions required on your part.

Touch Keys with you later.

N.

Hi Everyone, please forgive my not posting sooner, it’s the old “I’m busier than a one armed paper hanger” routine, believe me I am not complaining.

This was just posted from NMC and I thought you should see it if you haven’t already.

August 25, 2010
Merchant Mariner Certificates Suitable for Framing
Since the release of the Merchant Mariner Credential final rule, which consolidated the three previously issued licenses, Merchant Mariner Documents and STCW certificates into a single passport-style Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), mariners have been asking the Coast Guard to provide a certificate suitable for framing. The Coast Guard recognized this as an important issue to many mariners and decided to honor the mariner by providing a means for mariners to proudly display their professional credentials.
The Coast Guard received approximately 60 comments on the layout and content of the certificate. While some of the comments could not be incorporated, the site is being updated to allow the user to select and order the capacities to be printed on the certificate. The Coast Guard anticipates that this update will be available in late September.
The Merchant Mariner Certificate Suitable for Framing is presently available at: http://homeport.uscg.mil/mmcert. Mariners who hold or have held a valid Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) can download, save, print and proudly display the new certificate.
Users are reminded that the certificate, which is to be used for display purposes only, is not authorized as a substitute for a valid MMC and will not substitute for the MMC where the requirement to post a credential exists. There is no fee for downloading the certificate.
Sincerely,
B. K. Eisentrout
Deputy Director Commanding Officer United States Coast Guard National Maritime Center 100 Forbes Drive Martinsburg, WV 25404 Phone: (304) 433-3400 Fax: (304) 433-3409 E-mail: iasknmc@uscg.mil

Have a great week and I’ll Touch Keys with you later,

N.