The Coast Guard's National Maritime Center (NMC) issued a notice on STCW gap closing requirements that became effective on March 24. The regulatory changes require additional training and/or assessments for certain Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping (STCW) endorsements.
These gap closing requirements must be met by mariners who hold STCW endorsements issued under the previous regulatory requirements. Mariners who submit applications without evidence of meeting the gap closing requirements may have their STCW endorsements limited to “Not valid after Dec. 31, 2016.” STCW gap-closing requirements do not affect limitation or retention of national endorsements.
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