I recall Pilot being 2 years, but now my Med Cert. indicates Pilot 5 years.
Maybe the USCG found that every two years was too often for Pilot.
The STCW at 2 years is too often for younger guys, but not much the US can do about that.
Thanks, I was just wondering or speculating if HIPAA would apply.
They changed it last year I think? So if you haven’t renewed since then it won’t reflect it.
Fair enough, I’m waiting on it now.
I’m hearing that a lot of people are sailing without their new Med Certs.
My license was set to expire next month so I started the renewal process super early after hearing rumblings of delays last year.
Sent in for a new Medical Cert 8/6/2023, mailed out to me on August 23rd 2023.
Sent in for my license renewal 11/28/23, approved to print 4/29/24. The evaluators did ask for some certs I had sent into the REC but had disappeared by the time the evaluator received it. Also, had to do a take home test.
Plan WAY AHEAD people.
I thought pilot was 2 years and they were required to actually have a physical ever year in order to legally work. Maybe the USCG figured there’s no point making then send it in every 2, just do the very every 5 and keep getting your annual physical like before.
If I recall correctly the every year physical and 2 year submission was a result of the Staten Island Ferry incident in 2003
I thought it was too until @tugsailor’s comment made me check mine. Five years for pilot. 
The change was in late 2022, following a recommendation from MERPAC.
A medical certificate issued before February, 2023 will still show 2 years for pilot.
It was from before then. See the 2001 version of 46 CFR 10.709 (page 177). CFR annual edition is on-line back to 1996, it was there then.
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So the certificate is good for 5 years but the requirement for the annual physical still exists.
Yes, see 46 CFR 11.709(b).
The annual physical for pilots is required only if serving as pilot on a vessel over 1600 GRT/3000GT?
As I recall anyone with a 1600 GRT license may serve as pilot on a vessel under 1600 GRT/3000GT.
In order to serve as pilot on a vessel over 1600/3000, one must have a specific endorsement as First Class Pilot for that particular pilotage route.
So it appears that the annual physical requirement is only for First Class Pilots?
See 46 CFR 15.812.
That is very interesting.
Anyone serving as pilot (controlling navigation within pilotage waters) on a vessel under 1600 GRT must have:
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A current annual physical,
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At least four (or 12) round trips,
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At least one round trip within 5 years, and
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If on a tug towing an oil barge SIX MONTHS OF TUG AND BARGE SEATIME !!!
30 days, plus TOAR, or 30 days plus master or mate of towing, is NOT enough to operate a tug towing an oil barge.
Most of the major ATB and tug and oil barge operators doing work for major oil companies that are subject to SIRE auditing undoubtedly follow these requirements.
However, I have reason to be skeptical about the small oil barges in Alaska delivering oil to remote sites and small villages.
Base upon my many years of observing tug and barge freight, project cargo, and aggregate, operations, I can confidently say that these requirements are relatively unknown with respect to freight barges and routinely violated in a widespread manner. I cannot recall the issue of recency ever coming up for a freight barge.
These requirements were well known and diligently followed by the crews I’ve worked with on petroleum barges towed or pushed, mostly on the west coast ( California through to Alaska and out to Hawaii) since 2006. Pilotage records were kept by individual deck officers. If an officer didn’t have the requisite pilotage, a pilot was brought onboard. The company payed for annual physicals and were required.