1. Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing CG-MMC
Luke Harden
MERPAC
March 2017

2. Six Months in Review Audits - GAO, I-8 State Maritime Academy Audits
Independent Evaluation
Policy Development
Policy & Reg development during the Administration change
Forms
Coast Guard Authorization Act
Appeals - Stats
Appeals - Goal < 70 days
Appeals - Root cause analysis

3. GAO Audit of Merchant Mariner Licensing and Certification Requirements
Initiated in October 2015 to analyze USCG regulatory actions to implement 2010 amendments to STCW Convention
Centered on identification of any regulatory or policy gaps and economic impacts of the changes
Regulations, NVICs and outreach activities were all found to be in compliance with established policies
GAO issued their final report in January 2017 with no recommendations for changes

4. Maritime Academy Program Audits
Audits of the 7 State and Federal Maritime Academies every 5 years
NMC leads the audit process with CG-MMC participation
Current evolution commenced in Spring of 2015
6th academy to be audited Massachusetts in October of 2016
Final audit took place March of 2017 at Maine Maritime Academy
Every 5 years the CG conducts a series of program audits of the 7 state and federal maritime academies.
The audits are conducted by a team led by the National Maritime Center with participation from CG-MMC.
The most recent evolution commenced in the spring of 2015.
Massachusetts Maritime Academy was the 6th of 7 academies to be audited in October of 2016.
The final Academy Audit took place last week at Maine Maritime Academy.

5. I/8 Evaluation by Transport Canada
Partnership with Canadian Administration to complete Independent Evaluations of U.S. and Canada’s implementation of STCW
USCG hosted Transport Canada in November of 2016
Evaluators visited CGHQ, NMC, SUNY Maritime and Mid-Atlantic Maritime Academy
Reviewed USCG QMS, regulations, and policies implementing STCW
Outcome: US is in full compliance with STCW Convention and Code
The Coast Guard in partnership with the Canadian Administration completed an Independent Evaluation of the Continuing Implementation of the STCW Convention and Code as required by Regulation I/8 of the STCW Convention.
CG-MMC and the NMC hosted two evaluators from Transport Canada (deck/engine) in November of 2016 to complete the evaluation of the U.S. system.
The evaluators visited CGHQ, NMC, SUNY Maritime College and Mid Atlantic Maritime Academy.
The evaluators reviewed the Quality Management System utilized by the Mariner Credentialing Program and STCW regulations and policies in place to implement to the 2010 Manila Amendments.
The CG has recently received the report of the results of the Independent Evaluation from Transport Canada; the evaluation report indicated that The United States, through the USCG administration, has fulfilled the mandate to implement the 2010 amendments to the STCW Convention and Code, as well as established and managed a strong QMS that meet the STCW requirements.

6. Policy Published New NVICs Changes to NVICs Policy Letter
NVIC Mate/OICNW on OSVs
NVIC Chief Engineer on OSVs
NVIC Master & Chief Mate on OSVs
NVIC Assistant Engineer/OICEW on OSVs
Changes to NVICs
NVIC Master & Chief Mate 3,000 GT or More
NVIC Master & Chief Mate Less Than 3,000 GT
NVIC OICNW 500 GT or More
NVIC OICEW 1,000 HP/750 kW or More
Policy Letter
Restricted OUPV

7. Policy Being Developed
NVIC Master Less Than 500 GT (Replaces NVIC 13-14)
NVIC OICNW Less Than 500 GT (Replaces NVIC 13-14)
Tankerman-PIC on Inspected Vessels Policy Letter
Merchant Mariner Medical Manual
Limited Local Area for Towing Vessels
Forms

8. Credentialing Feedback
Questions/Feedback:
Questions specific to the final rule:
STCW Final Rule Frequently Asked Questions:
The complete list can be found on the NMC’s website
Feedback on the NVICs and policy:
Questions on individual applications should be directed to the NMC
Comments on the NVICs will be considered when we consider revisions and/or changes to that NVIC.

9. Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2015
Section 304 Harmonization of expiration dates of MMC, medical certificates and radar endorsements
Section 309 Trusted Agent/Designated Medical Examiner program for the issuance of Mariner Medical Certificates
Section 315 Merchant Mariner Examination Review
Section 304 Harmonization of expiration dates of MMC, medical certificates and radar endorsements
Work is being done to initiate an IT system change to facilitate the harmonization of expiration dates
Harmonization will be an “opt in” feature indicated on a future update of the 719B application
Section 309 Trusted Agent/Designated Medical Examiner program for the issuance of Mariner Medical Certificates
Collecting system requirements to initiate the development of a technology solution to facilitate the program
Determining the requirements for DMEs, DME application process, required training, and program oversight process.
Section 315 Merchant Mariner Examination Review
NMC has developed an electronic tool to facilitate the review of examination questions
31 applicants for working group participation, all will be utilized for some portion of the review based on their areas of expertise
First meeting of the group is scheduled for April at the NMC to review Engineering Questions
Second meeting tentatively scheduled for June to review Deck Questions
After initial meetings it is expected that a portion of the review can be completed via correspondence
CG-MMC is partnering with the CG- Performance Technology Center to complete a job task analysis to improve in the determination of individual examination requirements
PTC is commencing work on an analysis of the overall examination system and will provide recommendations for improvement

10. MEDMAC Committee’s latest tasks: Last meeting: September 15-16, 2016
Health risk analysis (joint task with MERPAC)
Designated Medical Examiner Program: Development of training content
Mariner Education & Prevention: Over-the-counter medications
New tasks to be presented at April 2017 meeting
Mariner Education Diet & Wellness Recommendations
Merchant Mariner Medical Manual
Last meeting: September 15-16, 2016
Next meeting: April 4 – 5, 2017

11. Instructor/Course Approval
Appeal Overview
Appeals Received by Calendar Year
Year
Medical
SSEB
PQEB
Instructor/Course Approval
Total
2017 2 1 5
2016 19 27 4 69
2015 31 40 26 6
103
The Average Age of Current Open appeals is only calculated for the previous 6 month period minus time waiting on NMC or reviewer being on leave for extended periods of time.

12. Appeal Processing Time Previous 12 Months9 18 10 10 12 6 1
Apr to Sep Medical 18 Appeals Days PQEB 18 Appeals 55.1 Days SSEB 10 Appeals 40.8 Days Other 6 Appeals Days
Oct to Mar Medical 9 Appeals 78.6 Days PQEB 10 Appeals 41 Days SSEB 12 Appeals Days Other 1 Appeal 19 DAYS

13. Appeal Decisions Previous 6 Months
Changed Color Scheme to make it a little easier to read although maybe ugly to some.
These appeal decisions are under Dr Torres and communications between MMC & NMC
There has been a change in organization and working on the causal factors
Total Appeals Closed during Previous 6 months- 32
SSEB Total- 12 Medical Total- 9 PQEB Total- 10 Other Issue- 1
Granted Granted Granted- 2 Granted- 1
Denied- 4 Denied- 6 Denied- 5 Denied- 0
Other Outcome- 1 Other Outcome- 1 Other Outcome- 2 Other Outcome- 0
Partial Grant- 0 Partial Grant- 0 Partial Grant- 1 Partial Grant- 0

14. Appeals Appeals - Goal < 70 days Appeals - Root cause analysis
Causal Analysis will look at the need to change policy or regulations with

15. Questions?