The U.S. Coast Guard is offering some relief to mariners during the shutdown, but the new guidance does not address the most critical issue: the validity of an active Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) and Medical Certificate. This leaves a growing number of mariners whose credentials have expired unable to work, directly impacting the Maritime Transportation System the nation depends on.
The problem is hitting mariners who submitted their renewal applications in good faith, only to have their current credentials expire while the National Maritime Center (NMC) is closed due to the government shutdown. Without an official extension from the Coast Guard, these mariners are not legally cleared to serve on a vessel, and employers cannot lawfully allow them to sail.
Vessels cannot operate without properly credentialed mariners, and as the shutdown continues, more mariners will be forced off the water, creating more crewing shortfalls for companies.
Industry groups, including the American Waterways Operators (AWO), have already urged the Coast Guard to grant an automatic extension for MMCs and medical certificates. This common-sense step would support mariners with expiring credentials and ease the immense pressure on the NMC post-shutdown while the inevitable backlog is cleared.
The Coast Guard's notice does provide a valuable safety net for application paperwork. The agency stated that any approval letters, drug test letters, and USCG-approved training course certificates that expire on or after October 1, 2025, will be extended. The extension will be for a period of time equal to the length of the shutdown, and it will begin on the day the government reopens. For example, if the shutdown lasts for 30 days, your certificate will be valid for an extra 30 days after the NMC reopens.
While the industry pushes for a broader solution, the advice for mariners will always remain the same: submit your complete application as soon as you can. A backlog is building, and submitting now secures your place in line. This extension protects your application paperwork, but only a valid Merchant Mariner Credential and USCG Medical Certificate allows you to work.
