@snakenbush, so what was your total time start to finish? Did they request additional information? Testing? What was the deal?
It honestly wasnāt crazy long for me. About three months. I didnāt know I could renew a year early and they mark it valid at your current mmc expiration date. They did kick it back for strange reasons multiple times which worried me.
- They said I put my birthdate in the signed date. (Just plain wasnāt true so I sent it again no changes)
2.They said they couldnt accept a digital signature and Iād have to print it out, fill it, scan it, and email it to them. (Iāve never had to do this with anything else going to the NMC in the past 4 years Iāve been sailing and I got a book full of national and stcw endorsements in that time.)
3.They would not accept my 2 week old SIU fit for duty certificate, physical with drug test, or seatime letter with random drug testing. (I donāt know why so I kept sending the paperwork and they eventually did)
The back and forth was making me anxious as I donāt like to turn down work and watch my bank account shrink. I donāt know for sure but felt like I was gonna get the passive aggressive bury the application treatment. I dont think thereās any other agency that expects you fill out paperwork a year early so you can continue to do your job. When youāre mostly out at sea with no internet thatās not a realistic expectation. They must have some kind of incentive to fake discrepancies too. It just needs to change.
Oh also I still dont have my renewal. It still says waiting to be evaluated.
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@snakenbush, thats terrible. Waiting to be evaluated can mean a lot of things. I fear you still have a couple to few weeks before you have it in your hand (if they donāt find any other problems). Good luck.
Latest update. Renewal made itās way to an evaluator. My september 14th email to iasknmc
[This is my current application status
āThe Coast Guard requires the following additional information from you: Tankerman-Proof of Transfers/Service/Recency. An explanation letter was mailed to you on September 14, 2022. If you do not respond within 90 days your application will be withdrawn.ā
I didnāt apply for a tankerman PIC. I have tankerman assist. I canāt even get on a ship to get signed-off because the NMC is taking so long with my renewal. Please stop with the phony discrepancies. I need my documentation.]
Unlessā¦might they have thought I wanted to extend the expiration date on my assist? Is that even a thing without taking the class again? And if so why that and not my advff as well?
Tankerman-Assistant also requires recent service on a tank vessel. Itās sea service, you donāt need to be on a ship to get āsigned-off.ā See 46 CFR 13.120(b). If you donāt have the service, and donāt want to wait until you get, tell NMC you donāt want to renew the Tankerman-Assistant endorsement.
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Doesnāt the endorsement need to be present in my mmc for me to sail on a tanker? I just got it last year. Also I gave them all my seatime letters. What can I do from my end at this point?
The endorsement needs to be in your MMC to assist in cargo operations on a tank vessel. You can still sail on the tanker, but you canāt stand cargo watches or be involved with cargo transfers. Probably al unrealistic distinction in practice.
Did you get the endorsement with sea service, or a course? If sea service, send them the same sea service you used to get the endorsement.
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I got through on the phone today. Dude was awesome. Just had to place it into continuity. I guess Iāll be taking the lpg class and piney point instead of paying out another grand. I got the endorsement with a class and have been sailing on gov ships since. I was somehow awarded 56 days but that doesnāt matter at this point. All my gom time on osvās didnt count which is funny considering how many transfers i did back then. I guess tankers are a different beast though.
Most OSVs are not registered/classed as Tank Ships under the CFRs and donāt carry an ORB Part 2 (and thus canāt be counted for loads and discharges).
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Continuity will allow you to renew in the future when you get the remining service.
OSV time generally does not count as most OSVs are not required to have a Tankerman-PIC for the transfers. It could be counted if the OSV is also classed and inspected as a tank vessel.
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January 19th I submitted STCW revalidations for renewal and upgrade. I got my new credential in the mail mid February, issue date is February 3rd. Iām not sure how mine passed through so quick because Iāve talked to people that had submitted back in December that still hadnāt received their credentials yet. This was in February and March.
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That has always seemed like an odd exemption for the OSV industry considering that their primary purpose is delivering fluids which may be diesel, methanol, drilling mud etc., to drilling rigs.
Barges that transfer fluids in port are required to have tankermen but OSVs that transfer at sea under all manner of conditions are not required to have tankermen?
Some congress critters made a lot of money off that exemption.
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Latest turnaround for raise of grade 45 Days!
August 27th submitted via email to Rec Boston.
Couple weeks in limbo then boom, process emails flying and finally mailed via USPS.
Straightforward application. Went over it with a fine tooth comb. Finally as of October 11th Master II/2 stickers in the little red book.
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Aug 23rd-sent in application to add gmdss, raise of grade from 500 grt master to 1600 grt master, then also asked for a new book because all my pages are full due to holding an engine license also and a couple of upgrades over the last four years. Recipe for disaster, right?? Because of the upgrade I requested split issuance in case because I needed the gmdss issued with no hold ups.
Aug 25- the REC received the app, and has forwarded to the NMC.
Sept 1-NMC has received the application, awaiting evaluation.
Sept 27-being evaluated. Later this day I receive an email only about the gmdss being issued and the duplicate book approved to print.
Sept 28- I check my app status on the website. They are awaiting more info for the upgrade. I call the NMC and leave a message for my evaluator. I actually got a call back within minutes. Turns out they can only see back to your last transaction, and I am short of time. I sent all my sea letters for the last 20 years with this app and five of them mysteriously disappeared while getting sent from the REC to the NMC. She also adds that a year ago when I submitted my app for master of tow oceans and got near coastal instead, that my evaluator at that time made an error and she would correct it and issue me MOT oceans. Also, that if I wanted her to get my legacy file, that takes six weeks at least. I tell her Iāll resend the seatime. I also owe another 45 dollars for the split issuance/new book. Apparently I was misinformed by my local REC. Immediately after the phone call I resend the seatime and pay.gov receipt.
Sept 30- acknowledged by NMC that they received the additional info and are forwarding to evaluator.
Oct 5- havenāt gotten any emails so I check my app status again. Says I withdrew my domestic endorsement app. Which I didnāt. Instead of flipping out and calling them, I check my credential verification thru the website. Turns out Iāve been issued what I applied for. Never got any emails regarding that.
Oct 6- got an email from my credit card that 45 dollars has been refunded. Guess they refunded me my additional issuance fee.
Oct 7- printed and in the mail. Iāll update this post once I actually receive it. Update: received in mail Oct 13. All and all, was a much quicker turn around than I expected, going by the posts Iāve seen over the last few months.
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@Ctony @Irish_Pennant, thanks for updating guys. Hopefully things at NMC are getting back to a better normal. Good news.
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SEPT 7 - Submitted application to REC, forwarded to NMC same day
SEPT 8 - Medical evaluated and issued
SEPT 9 - Medical mailed
SEPT 15 - Your application has cleared the safety and suitability vetting and is currently awaiting a professional qualification evaluation.
OCT 4 - Your application is being evaluated for professional qualifications. Later that day, approved for issue.
Still waiting on them to print and mail the damn thing. I donāt understand how the hold-ups always seem to be the easy things. The last 3 times I had something issued, it was mailed in 24 hoursā¦ but now it takes 10 days? WTF?
I am in the process of renewing my license. Asked for an update the other day about my application.
He said 60-90 days to issuance is what I should expect.
Going on 6 months for a very straightforward upgrade.
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New personal record.
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