The U.S. Coast Guard has proposed eliminating six training requirements tied to Merchant Mariner Credential endorsements. The agency says the rules go beyond the minimums in the international STCW convention and add cost without a matching safety benefit.
The proposal, published in the Federal Register on October 1, covers masters and officers in charge of a navigational watch on vessels under 500 gross tons in near-coastal waters, as well as certain engineering officers and electro-technical ratings. Requirements that would go include leadership and bridge resource management training, Engineering Terminology and Shipboard Operations coursework, and computer systems and high-voltage power systems training.
The Coast Guard estimates the change would affect about 825 mariners a year and save about $6.1 million annually. Comments are due December 30 under docket USCG-2025-0392.
Original Article from Professional Mariner| Written by Professional Mariner Staff
