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National Maritime Center (NMC)
Mariner Licensing and Documentation (MLD)
License, Document, or Certificate of Registry - Background Information
Quick Links
Domestic Authority
Under the authority of Title 46 U.S. Code, the U.S. Coast Guard
promulgates the requirements for the licensing and documentation of
mariners. These requirements are found in Title 46 Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR), Parts 10, 12, 13, and 15. Each mariner credential has
specific requirements as to age, citizenship, physical condition,
character, qualifying sea service, assessments, and specialized
training. Mariner credentials are issued by the Coast Guard in the form
of Licenses for Deck, Engineer, and Radio Officers; Certificates of
Registry (CORs) for Staff Officers; and Merchant Mariner Documents
(MMDs) for unlicensed ratings of shipboard Deck and Engineering
departments. Any credential, whether a License, COR, or MMD, may contain
limitations as to vessel type, tonnage, propulsion, horsepower, or
waters upon which service is authorized.
STCW & Domestic Authority
Title 46 CFR Parts 10, 12, 13, and 15 were designed to closely conform to the provisions for the International Convention on Standards, Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW), 1978. The 1995 amendments to STCW introduced some changes on how our U.S. domestic licensing and documentation requirements are applied to meet the Code. In general, STCW 95 applies to mariners on most seagoing commercial vessels. An STCW Certificate will be issued to mariners who meet the STCW requirements and is separate from U.S. Merchant Mariner credentials. Differences between the domestic and international tonnage measurement systems can result in significant disparity between the domestic gross register tons (GRT) and the international gross tons (GT) of a vessel. The STCW Code bases requirements on the International Tonnage Convention (ITC) of 1969 (also known as the Convention Measurement System) in terms of Gross Tons (GT). The domestic requirements in Title 46 CFR Parts 10, 12, and 13 are based on the Regulatory Measurement System and is indicated in this web page in terms of Gross Register Tons (GRT), domestic tonnage. All of the requirements in Title 46 CFR Part 15 are based on domestic tonnage (GRT), except that Subpart J (vessels subject to requirements of STCW) is based on ITC tonnage (GT). There is no simple conversion between the two systems. Currently, for mariner licensing and documentation purposes, the only accepted equivalencies are for 200 GRT (domestic tonnage) and 1,600 GRT (domestic tonnage), which are recognized by STCW to be equivalent to 500 GT (ITC tonnage) and 3,000 GT (ITC tonnage), respectively. Wherever applicable, this site distinguishes between the domestic and ITC measurement systems. STCW 95 also takes into account the route on which a vessel will operate and applies to "seagoing vessels." Seagoing vessel means a self-propelled vessel in commercial service that operates beyond the boundary line established by Title 46 CFR Part 7. The boundary line is different from the COLREGS Demarcation line that is used for International and Inland Navigation Rules of the Road. Seagoing service also does not include a vessel navigating exclusively on inland waters, including the Great Lakes.
Licenses
Merchant mariner licenses are issued to officers in the deck and engineering departments, and radio officers. The navigation of a vessel and management of the deck department is the responsibility of the deck officers. Deck officer licenses are issued by grade (e.g., Master, Chief Mate, Second Mate, Third Mate, Mate and Operator), any vessel type restrictions (e.g., Uninspected Fishing Industry or Uninspected Passenger vessels), means of propulsion (i.e., Steam, Motor, Sail or Auxiliary Sail), vessel tonnage (from not more than 5 to any gross register tons), and route (e.g., Inland, Great Lakes, Near Coastal or Oceans).
The propulsion plant of a vessel and management of the engineering department is the responsibility of the engineer officers. Engineer officer licenses are issued by grade (e.g., Chief Engineer, First Assistant Engineer (STCW equivalent is Second Engineering Officer), Second Assistant Engineer, Third Assistant Engineer, Limited Chief Engineer, Limited Assistant Engineer and Designated Duty Engineer), any vessel type restrictions (e.g., Uninspected Fishing Industry Vessels), means of propulsion (i.e., Steam, Motor, or Gas Turbine), horsepower (from 1,000 to any horsepower), and route (e.g., Near Coastal or Oceans). License limitations for deck and engineer officers, including tonnage and horsepower, are based on the type of experience of each applicant and the passing of applicable written examinations. Each license has separate general, service and examination requirements.
STCW 95 also requires certain officers to hold Global Maritime
Distress and Safety System (GMDSS) certification for vessels with GMDSS
equipment. Mariners who satisfy the requirements for GMDSS certification
will be issued an appropriate endorsement on their STCW Certificate as
well as on their MMD.
Certificates of Registry
Certificates of registry (CORs) are issued to officers in the staff
department. Staff officer CORs are issued by grade (e.g., Chief Purser,
Purser, Medical Doctor, or Professional Nurse) and may be endorsed with
a rating (e.g., Marine Physician Assistant, Hospital Corpsman, or
Pharmacist's Mate). Staff officer applicants are not required to take a
written examination, but must present a letter justifying the need for a
COR. Each COR grade has separate experience requirements in the area for
which a COR is sought.
Merchant Mariner Documents
Merchant mariner documents (MMDs) are issued to unlicensed personnel who
support the operation of a vessel. Unqualified ratings are issued to
entry level individuals who typically have little or no sea service such
as ordinary seaman (deck department), wiper (engineering department), or
food handler (steward's department). Qualified ratings are issued based
on previous sea service in a particular department or specialized
training. Qualified ratings for members in the deck department are
issued by rating type (e.g., Able Seaman or Bosun) and any vessel type
restrictions (e.g., sail vessels or offshore supply vessels). Various
ratings are issued as Qualified Member of the Engine Department to
qualified individuals as specific ratings (e.g., oiler, fireman/watertender,
junior engineer, deck engineer, machinist, electrician, refrigeration
engineer, or pumpman). Other ratings are issued for specialized training
or experience, such as Lifeboatman, Tankerman, or GMDSS At-Sea
Maintainer.
Licensing Questions and Concerns, Contact:
IASKNMC
NMC Help Desk: 1-888-IASKNMC (1-888-427-5662)
Web Site Questions and Concerns, Click here