Security Levels
National Maritime Center (NMC)
Mariner Licensing and Documentation (MLD)
Merchant Mariner Documents
- MMD Information
- What is a Merchant
Mariner’s Document or MMD?
All mariners employed aboard U.S. merchant vessels greater
than 100 Gross Register Tons (Domestic Tonnage), except
operators of uninspected passenger vessels, are required
to have a valid U.S. Merchant Mariner’s Document (MMD).
An MMD is not a guarantee of finding work, but rather a
certification allowing you to work in the shipboard merchant
marine industry.
- What kind of work
can I do with an MMD?
With an MMD, you may work in the Deck, Engineering, or Steward’s
department of a ship depending on the type of Rating for
which you apply. The Deck dept is concerned mainly with
the navigation and operation of a ship. The Engineering
dept is concerned mainly with the propulsion and maintenance
of machinery on a ship. The Steward’s dept is concerned
mainly with the supplies and food services of a ship.
- Where can I get
an MMD?
You may apply for an MMD at any of the 17 Coast Guard Regional
Examination Centers (RECs). There are several requirements
to satisfy including the completion of an application form
and payment of user fees. All of these requirements are
described in this guide. To see a list of RECs and their
locations, click on this link
(REC
LINK).
- How do I find a
job once I get an MMD?
You must seek a marine company or a maritime labor union
to find work. These organizations often are listed in the
Yellow pages and marine industry related publications. Another
source of employment information is the U.S. Maritime Administration
(MARAD), and their website is
http://marad.dot.gov.
- How does the International
Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and
Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW) apply to me if I
have an MMD?
The requirements of the STCW Convention and Code may apply
to you depending on the type of marine employment in which
you will serve. For more information on how the STCW may
apply to unlicensed mariners, go to the
Unlicensed Mariners’ STCW Guide.
- MMD Requirements
- Professional
Requirements
- What are Ratings?
There are two rating levels for unlicensed merchant
marine personnel: Qualified Ratings and Unqualified
(Entry Level) Ratings. Each "Qualified Rating" as Able
Seaman (AB), Lifeboatman (LBMAN), and Qualified Member
of the Engineering Department (QMED) requires a minimum
amount of qualifying sea service or experience. An "Unqualified
or Entry Level Rating" as Ordinary Seaman (OS), Wiper
(WI), or as a member of the Steward’s Department, e.g.,
Food Handler (FH), does not require any previous sea
service or experience.
- What are the
requirements for Qualified Ratings?
- Sea Service Chart for Qualified
Deck Ratings.
This chart contains the total number of underway
days required for each qualified deck rating. The
term "service on deck" means service in the deck
department in work related to the work usually performed
on board vessels by able seaman and may include
service on fishing, fish processing, fish tender
vessels and on public vessels of the United States.
RATING SOUGHT:
|
SERVICE REQUIREMENTS:
|
ABLE SEAMAN- Unlimited |
Three years (1080 days) service on deck
on vessels operating on the oceans or the
Great Lakes. |
ABLE SEAMAN- Limited |
Eighteen months (540 days) service on deck
in vessels of 100 Gross Register Tons (Domestic
Tonnage) or over in a service not exclusively
confined to rivers and smaller inland lakes
of the U.S. |
ABLE SEAMAN- Special |
Twelve months (360 days) service on deck
on vessels operating on the oceans or navigable
waters of the U.S. including the Great Lakes.
|
ABLE SEAMAN- Mobile Offshore Unit (MOU)
|
Twelve months (360 days) service on deck
in vessels of at least 65 feet in length
operating on the oceans or navigable waters
of the U.S. |
ABLE SEAMAN- Offshore Supply Vessel (OSV)
|
Six months (180 days) service on deck on
vessels operating on the oceans or navigable
waters of the U.S. including the Great Lakes.
|
ABLE SEAMAN- Fishing Industry (FISH IND)
|
Six months (180 days) service on deck on
vessels operating on the oceans or navigable
waters of the U.S. including the Great Lakes.
|
ABLE SEAMAN-Sail |
Six months (180 days) service on deck on
sailing school vessels operating on the
oceans or navigable waters of the U.S. including
the Great Lakes. |
LIFEBOATMAN |
One year (360 days) service on deck, OR
two years (720 days) in the other departments
of vessels, operating on the navigable waters
of the U.S. |
LIFEBOATMAN - Mobile Offshore Unit (MOU)
|
One year (360 days) service on deck in vessels
of 15 Gross Register Tons (Domestic Tonnage)
operating on the navigable waters of the
U.S.
Note: Service other than on deck is given
half credit (e.g., 1 day credit for every
2 days served) and an approved training
program may substitute for all except 30
days of the service requirement.
|
- Sea Service Chart for Qualified
Member of the Engine Department (QMED) Ratings
This chart contains the total number of underway
days serving in the Engine department required for
each QMED rating. There are 10 different QMED ratings
available and the service requirements are the same
for each, except for QMED ratings as Deck Engine
Mechanic and Engineman as noted below. In addition,
each separate QMED rating requires passing a written
examination, except for Deck Engine Mechanic and
Engineman.
RATING SOUGHT:
|
SERVICE REQUIREMENTS:
|
QMED - Oiler, Fireman/Watertender, Junior
Engineer, Refrigerating Engineer, Deck Engineer,
Electrician, Machinist, OR Pumpman |
Six months (180 days) service in the engine
room on vessels working in the capacity
of at least equal to Wiper. |
QMED - Deck Engine Mechanic |
While holding rating of QMED-Junior Engineer:
- Six months (180 days) service as
QMED-Junior Engineer on steam vessels
of at least 4,000 horsepower,
OR
- Satisfactory completion of at least
4 weeks of indoctrination and training
in the engine department of an automated
steam vessel of at least 4,000 horsepower.
|
QMED - Engineman |
While holding rating of QMED - Fireman/Watertender
and Oiler, or Junior Engineer:
- Six months (180 days) service in
any one or combination of QMED - Junior
Engineer, Fireman/Watertender, or Oiler
on steam vessels of at least 4,000 horsepower,
OR
- Satisfactory completion of at least
2 weeks of indoctrination and training
in the engine department of a partially
automated steam vessel of at least 4,000
horsepower.
|
- How do I document
my sea service for Qualified Ratings?
For Qualified Ratings, you must submit proof of required
service based on days you worked at sea while underway.
A day is defined as eight hours of watchstanding or
day work, not to include overtime. On commercial vessels
where a twelve-hour workday is authorized and practiced,
such as on a six-on, six-off watch schedule, each workday
may be considered for one and one-half days of service
credit. Required sea service is specified in months
or years, which are then converted to days, i.e., one
year means 360 days and one month is 30 days. You may
document required service in various forms, including
original certificates of discharge and/or official documents
from marine companies on original company letterhead
signed by authorized officials. Your original proof
of service MUST INCLUDE the following information about
the amount and nature of your experience:
- Name and documentation/official number of each
vessel on which the service was obtained
- Vessel's gross tonnage, shaft horsepower and
type of propulsion
- Number of days underway on each vessel including
the dates the service was obtained
- Number of days spent in each type of route (Ocean,
Near Coastal, Inland, specific river or lake, etc.)
- Average number of hours worked per day
- A brief description of duties or work performed.
NOTE: Title 18 U.S. Code (USC), Section 1001
states that intentionally making false or fraudulent
statements or representations in any matter within
the jurisdiction of any department or agency of
the United States is a Federal crime punishable
by a maximum fine of $10,000, 5 years imprisonment,
or both. When signing the application and forms
to apply for an MMD, you acknowledge awareness of
the meaning of the statute in 18 USC 1001. If there
is evidence that an application was submitted fraudulently,
the application may be denied and the case will
be forwarded to the local U.S. Attorney for appropriate
action.
- What are the
service requirements for Unqualified (Entry Level) Ratings?
For Unqualified (Entry Level) Ratings, you do not
have to have any prior experience or sea service.
Licensing Questions and Concerns, Contact:
IASKNMC
NMC Help Desk: 1-888-IASKNMC (1-888-427-5662)
Web Site Questions and Concerns, Click here