The U.S. Coast Guard verification tool used by Coast Guard inspectors, employers and mariners no longer matches what is written on Merchant Mariner Credentials as of 7 a.m. ET on Jan. 18, 2025.
The Coast Guard has begun enforcing the CFR updates from Final Rule Changes to Endorsement Titles 2024-24271 (89 FR 93040) to titles for certain officer and rating endorsements in keeping with the Coast Guard policy of using gender-neutral language wherever possible.
Any new Merchant Mariner Credentials printed after Jan. 17, 2025 will receive the new officer and rating endorsement names that will match the official US Coast Guard verification tool.
Here is a quick guide of what a mariners MMC will say compared to what the official US Coast Guard verification tool will say.
- Apprentice mate (steersman) is now Apprentice Mate of Towing Vessels
- Able Seaman - Unlimited is now Able Seafarer-Unlimited
- Able Seaman - Limited is now Able Seafarer-Limited
- Able Seaman - Special is now Able Seafarer-Special
- Able Seaman - OSV is now Able Seafarer-Special (OSV)
- Able Seaman - Sail is now Able Seafarer-Sail
- Able Seaman - Fishing is now Able Seafarer-Fishing Industry
- Lifeboatman is now Lifeboat Operator
- Lifeboatman - Limited is now Lifeboat Operator-Limited
- Tankerman is now Tank Vessel-PIC
- Tankerman-PIC (Barge) is now Tank Barge-PIC
- Tankerman Assistant is now Tank Vessel-Assistant
- Tankerman Engineer is now Tank Vessel-Engineer
- Fireman is now Boiler Technician
- Hospital corpsman is now Medical Technician
- Pumpman is now Pump Technician
- Ordinary Seaman is now Ordinary Seafarer
For the next five years, Coast Guard inspectors, employers and mariners will need to remember to translate what is written on hard copy MMCs and the official US Coast Guard verification tool during inspections and when planning vessel operations until the current valid Merchant Mariner Credentials are renewed and issued a new hard copy MMC with the new officer and rating endorsement names.
