Thank you Sir!
I’ve heard some concern about license renewal times right now. Just renewed my license. No raise in grade involved. Submitted online to Seattle REC on 11-16-2020, just got the new license in the mail 01-04-2021, so 49 days from submittal to in-hand.
I did fall under the current COVID exemption for BST and AFF refreshers, so I didn’t have to submit any paperwork for that.
I just have to renew stcw medical. Any idea on how those are going? I am dreading having to sit in a waiting room around chin maskers, but it’s what I’ll have to do
I can’t even get a ssl from my company never mind adding radar to it
I just renewed mine, made an appointment at the local occupational health clinic here in town, 20 minutes later I was out the door, about a week and a half for my renewal to arrive in my mailbox
Just did mine, and it went FAST.
I went to my local clinic dec 21st right when they opened, social distancing wasn’t a problem at that hour. I faxed the 719k off same day early afternoon. My new card was issued and put in the mail dec 24th. I had it in hand monday the 28th.
If i wasn’t doing this over the christmas holiday i may have got it in the mail sooner. Either way, very quick turnaround…as it should be.
I routinely add this verbiage when I issue seatime letters. No issue with a renewal or upgrade yet.
Did you send in a regular every day application. Will you still have to do refresher before October???
No refresher needed, it’s been temporarily waived due to COVID. I think it’s waived for licenses that expire before the end of June 2021. I don’t have the USCG paper in front of me that explains it.
I can’t link it on my phone, but go to the NMC website and look for policy letter 03-20 dated August 24th 2020. They are accepting sea time for certain competencies.
The relevant part of CG-MMC Policy Letter 3-20 applies to REVALIDATION courses (for those with one year of seagoing service in the past 5 years). It does NOT apply to REFRESHER courses for those who do not have one year of service in the past five years.
I always mix those two up
Seeing that the NMC takes a beating on here, I thought I’d relay a positive.
I’m in the middle of reinstatement of a formerly held, expired license. I once held a 500 GRT Master Oceans with 1600 Mate (3000 ITC). I renewed that once via open book exam with no seatime, and it was renewed at 200 GRT (STCW expired). I let that license expire.
So, I’m working on reinstating the 200 GRT license, as that’s as high as I can get without thousands of dollars in STCW. I received a phone call…from an actual human at the NMC. In fact we had three phone calls to clarify what I wanted and why I was eligible. The assessor was professional and receptive when I pointed out some bad information (with CFR’s to back me up).
Needless to say, I was astonished to get the call.
43 days from submission till the phone call today. Pending issuance.
You can hold a national endorsement (license) without the corresponding STCW (but not the converse). So you can restore your previous national endorsements. However as you’re probably aware. your employment options might be limited without the STCW, but no less and probably a bot more than holding only a national endorsement for 200 GRT.
JDCAVO, that sounds correct. However, to go back to 500/1600 (National) from the 200, I need basic and advanced firefighting again. Frankly, being in my mid 50’s, I just don’t see anybody taking me on with that license, with no substantial recent experience.
Back in the 90’s I worked on some small tugs moving equipment coastwise, and even doing some assist work in the Bahamas (AUTEC). But getting back on tugs in a licensed position seems like a bridge too far at this point. I’ll likely try to get some relief work on the local T-boats.
That’s what I’ll have to do. Go early in the AM to my usual place and just get er done. Thanks all of you for the replies & happy New Year’s.
It may be. The grandfathering period to get the no longer new endorsement as Master (or Mate) of towing vessels is long expired, so you would need to restore the 500 GRT endorsement and complete a “TOAR” a series of practical demonstrations relevant to towing vessels.
Update: Reinstatement /Upgrade issued. 45 days total.
I am really surprised and a bit disappointed the latest policy letter as referenced in @jdcavo’s post above regarding renewal of MMC’s hasn’t been publicized by the various unions.
My son’s MMC expired in November and he has been calling the SIU regarding scheduling of their Revalidation classes since mid year. Other than being told classes will be scheduled this year (2021), nothing from them to let him know he can renew now without the class.