NMC incompetence and horrible manning

Maritime Topics Maritime Training & Licensing
1

This is a copy of my comments to the NMC, when asked about a survey post renewal.

“At my age, I’m glad this is my last renewal. I completely understand why mariners must hire ‘license consultants’ to push applications thru this impersonal, remote, un necessarily difficult process.

Gone are the days to meet at REC to actually speak in person to a desk person (or to evaluator) to go over application, and ensure application submission, and answer any questions.

I submitted my complete application jn April. Because the 719-k was ‘skewed’ (possibly a scanner issue) my application was rejected. All other documents were lost as well I had to re submit the physical, SS letter, the BS and FF revals.
Some evaluator informed me that I didn’t submit a proof of drug test letter. (This was Included by reference ON my SS letter from company). I had to discuss this with a less than astute chat person that meeting the drug test CFR requirements is either via a drug test submission OR company employee participation in approved program (on sea service letter). After going back and forth a couple phone calls that was agreed the SS letter was sufficient. How many other mariners (who aren’t cognizant of this have) had a harder (more expensive time) and this is the system we all dread to use every 4.5 years!
This is WAY more difficult than it need be. Having to wade through a phone list to chat, The chat app, only to speak with a person who is just reading off a screen (who isn’t the actual evaluator) is not exuding confidence in the system. And your ‘check application status’ button option is a joke!

I don’t hold much hope for NMC to get better at this. It’s hard enough to find a deck hand that knows how to splice or throw a line in the industry now. But woe and behold we are rife with deckhands who know MS word, can use the internet with ease, fill out company forms and drill pages.

So I suspect it’s the same in NMC land. Plenty of computer experts. Not so much with actual mariners who know what they are even evaluating.”

In completing the survey they ask for the MRN.

I have no idea why, but mine (being I’m so old?!) is 6 digits. When I put my MRN and hit submit, I got a response: MRN must be 7 digits. Typical. Even their ‘survey’ isn’t able to deal with all mariners!

Typical bureauspeak from incompetent Blue Suits trying to waddle their way through something they know nothing about.

Uncle Sam’s Confused Group is living up to their acronym.

Manchins West Virginia NMC debacle is a PERFECT example why Term Limits need to be thrown around Congress’ inefficiency.

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2

∆ This! ∆

My last renewal juuuuust snuck under the recent backlog, but everyone I have sailed with during the past 24 months who needed to renew/upgrade has had horror stories. After submitting sea service letters and upgrade applications, three OS have waited between 16 and 23 WEEKS to get approval to test. Once two of them did test, it took a further 7 weeks to be issued their AB (one unlimited and one Special)

Think about that… between 23 and 30 weeks of wage differential between OS and AB while the ponderous gears of bureaucracy grind along as opposed to a) gather your paperwork, b) travel to the nearest REC c) walk in, hand your packet to an evaluator d) possibly test later that day or the next, e) walk out with credential in hand.

“We’re from the government, and we’re here to help.”

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I wouldn’t say the NMC is incompetent or horrible. I will say the change in communication from my previous experiences has been comparatively slow, or non existent, and therefore frustrating. Thank goodness that their chat feature works reliably.
My current renewal is hung up on Tkmn/PIC transfer records format. “BARGE INFO IS MISSING”? What more than barge name and official number could be needed? All I got was a CFR reference. One month out from notification that a letter was mailed, but no letter has been received. Then an email stating 60 days left to provide the information or else my application is forfeited. Again, thank goodness for chat: that feature and the NMC staff providing the service have been the most helpful. I may just opt for continuance on that endorsement for the twilight of my career.

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4

I am trying to renew my med cert. I submitted in July. On 15 August I received an email stating they were in receipt of the application. I have heard NOTHING from NMC since. This is ridiculous.

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You have to change how you submit for your med cert. I sent mine in March after I missed a signature (that is completely on me) and after the confirmation email, never got anything again. I went to the chat and was told it was still not signed (incorrect, I verified the signature). So I resubmitted in July and got it in August.

I will now be submitting every year after my annual physical.

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This is the problem with all the delays. We’re all going to start doing this…which unnecessarily overloads the NMC…which causes more delays…which causes more people to resubmit their stuff…etc etc etc…

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Just FYI you can call (or I suppose chat) the NMC and they’ll email you a copy of the letter so you don’t have to wait for it to get lost in the mail.

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One of my crew is waiting for his medical, it’s been in “awaiting review” for more than a week now. He sent it in over a month ago.

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Let’s not even get started on that bloated and incompetent bureaucracy.

My mail and packages are always late or never even show up now. I have to pay my bills online so my lights or water dont get cut off.

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10

I completely agree, and if I didn’t have to wait 7 months and 2 applications to get something I must have to work, then I would wait. I waited last time until day 85 or not hearing anything, only to be told the application I sent was incomplete. It was actually fully complete and they were in error, I kicked it up a level to review and was told it would be 5-7 business days to hear from them. I’m still waiting for that call/email. I would urge anyone who is having issues to be proactive. I was patient and got burned.

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I feel like all this s-t started when people began “working from home “. My organization workday starts at 7. If I need to talk to somebody in the office I usually give them 1-2 hours to ‘settle down “ and only then call/email them. In 99% of the time they still in their beds or at best at the breakfast table at home! You can hear cat’s meowing or coffee pot noise. I think exactly same is happening at NMC.

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The common thread of all these posts is the same: the NMC is a mess and, for the most part (with a few shining periods of time as the exception), has been since inception.

Rewinding to '08 and my frustration with getting STCW on my license and AB “card”, I sent something to CAPT Stalfort and my reps in D.C. along the lines of:

“Lets put MARAD in charge of USCG commissions. What? You haven’t received your renewal? Yes, we understand you can’t work or be paid without it. Yes, I am sorry, but we need all of your documents resubmitted, please. Oh, I see…well, that is because you have a LEGACY commission and we don’t have immediate access to your file. Right, yes, I know you have held the commission for twelve years, but we need you to send everything again. Are you there? Hello?”

Consistency versus separate RECs; riiiight. Consistently unpredictable.

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Wrong. NMC evaluators are not permitted to work from home as they handle personal protected information.

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14

How did ATF speed all of their shit up? Some of the firearm paperwork stuff went from 2 years to 2 days and working there is supposedly not exactly a dream job either.

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Man, from what I see here, anything is possible.

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At least 15 years ago I had direct phone numbers and/or email addresses for my evaluators at the NMC. Now it takes 7-10 business days for them to get any messages from you.

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Hey brother. I just got mine back, and it was exactly 3 months to the day. No, issues, no hang up’s. Luckily I expired underway and there’s a grace period of 90 days or something as long as you’re valid when you sign on.

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19

I assume you mean your medical certificate expired. If you expired your medical certificate is probably not accurate and no longer valid.

If a medical certificate expires during a FOREIGN voyage, it’s good until return to a U.S. port. If it expires when you’re not on a foreign voyage, it’s no longer valid. See 46 CFR 15.1103(h)(3).

There is no such extension for MMCs. You can’t serve past the expiration of your MMC. See 46 CFR 10.205(c). See also the last sentence of 46 CFR 10.227(h) and paragraph 5.a of CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-24.

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NMC has been a mess since it was created. While people like JD Cavo are very knowledgeable and helpful, the system if messed up. Central planning doesn’t work. Remember the USSR? The local REC’s were much more efficient. My 719 has been in NMC’s hand for over a month since they acknowledged receipt. I called yesterday and the woman on the phone read the answers to my questions right off a script. It still hasn’t been assigned to an evaluator. That is ridiculous and totally unacceptable. Government efficiancy and incompetence at its finest. Is there a grace period for the Med Cert or will I have to be signed off and take a forced period of unemployment?

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Are you sailing foreign?