My last license (2005) before the MMC had a single issue number only. The number was the combined total of original issues and upgrades, and renewals.
The requirement for posting still exists, see 46 USC 7110. It’s in the U.S. Code, so it has to be changed by Congress.
It all seemed to work pretty well during a recent renewal.
Got the checklists, collected the info, filled out the forms, paid fees and sent the packet. Got email updates as things progressed, had to submit one additional statement and MMC was printed and received. NMC Check status function seemed to malfunction a lot but all phone calls, chat messages and emails were replied to promptly and accurately. Basically, it went fine. Renewal 10 or thereabouts. Quite good, but could have gone a touch faster.
I recently had a shipmate upgrading from unlim chief mate all oceans to unlim Master all oceans. Had 2.5 yrs sea time as Chief mate in the last 5 yrs onboard unlimited tonnage vessels with ARPA , Radar and ECDIS requirements. This was documented in the sea service letter. NMC sent a license with restriction to non ARPA vessels. Had to retake a week long ARPA class because neither he nor NMC could find his original ARPA cert from 15 years ago.
Anyone had a similar experience on ARPA ?
Is this a new item they will require for renewal? I have 6 or so upgrade/renewals and have never had to go back that far, other than the most recent BST.
Maybe just a one off where the examiner wasn’t willing to accept that the document was needed to get the original 3M license many years ago and is a one and done course? The list of certain needed to prove lineage of an unlim CM renewal would be extensive.
Thanks for any relevant input, as I approach my upcoming renewal application.
No.
That’s most likely the case.
Learn a lesson from this though and be sure to keep good records of all your shit. I have every class certificate from every class I ever took, even company training if they issued a certificate for it. I also have all USCG/NI course certificates scanned and stored in multiple locations electronically.
Yes, digital copies are the way to go for sure. Easy access at home or shipboard easily.
They issued the credential without the restriction. So they are assuming they screwed up when they gave the endorsement without the restriction, and he needs to prove they didn’t screw up?
They issued credential with the restriction. Made him take course to get restriction removed.
He should have appealed.
Anddddd this is why we all hate the NMC!
Cool suggestion. Too bad it doesn’t matter.
I’ve had straight forward simple things get totally botched by the NMC. Got a buddy that got sent a mate’s license fairly quick–too bad he’s an engineer. Recently took several weeks to rectify a very simple endorsement screw-up (take the class, get endorsement).
Are you an asshole? Do you ever look in the mirror and do some self reflection? I don’t know you, so maybe you are a super nice guy, or an asshole. But lots of government workers are assholes and love to make excuses and attach those that provide critical feedback. Just imagine if the FAA operated it’s licensing process as poorly as the NMC.
What’s your point? The NMC still screws up too much and is too slow.
Recently renewed and upgraded from Unlimited C/M to Unlimited Master.
Packet submitted via email January 10, all necessary items scanned, labelled, and attached as individual PDFs.
Approved for issuance February 6.
Mailed February 17 (after a gentle reminder email).
In my hands by February 21.
All told, start to finish the process took just a little over a month. Med cert renewal was even quicker. I kept waiting for a disaster that never came. Makes me wonder if some of these delays are self-inflicted.
There’s at least one in this exchange.
We are telecommuting because our base was wrecked by back to back earthquakes. Those jobs that could be performed remotely are now in a telecommuting status to free up space for the work that must be done on base (classified, engineering labs and such).
Every organization has what I call the “designated asshole” 
Comes across as one of those “I know a guy” bullshit stories without providing real proof or foundational evidence. I’ll just file it away as just another sea story.
You do you. As for the topic at hand (NMC delays and incompetency), there is plenty of first-hand experience of it across multiple threads on this forum…but of course you can just file it away as another “sea story”.
Here’s another sea story:
April 3, application emailed to REC
April 4, app “accepted” by REC for initial inspection
April 7, app forwarded by REC to NMC
April 11, NMC “received” app and “awaiting” security vetting.
April 21, today no movement…
Previous simple endorsement addition 6 months ago got mailed to me missing the key endorsement I asked for. And no, there was no error on the paperwork as I prepared it and then sent it to a license consultant to inspect and submit it. Glad I had the 3rd party to handle the multiple back-and-forth required to rectify yet another NMC mistake on a one of the most simplest NMC interactions possible.
April 7 - Exams passed at Oakland REC
April 10- “Approved to Print”
April 21 - No movement.
Curious how long this will take. Previously I haven’t had to wait more than 6 weeks or so, but those required evaluations of seatime, etc.
Why would he appeal? That would take many months.
It’s easier, faster, and cheaper to just go retake the ARPA course, as he did.
My successful request for reconsideration took about 8 months. I’m told that four months of that delay was a period when all the request for reconsideration processing staff was reassigned to help the evaluators with the big backlog of regular applications.
Anyone that thinks NMC is doing a good job must live on Fantasy Island.
However, most government offices are not any better. It will only get worse.
See also: State Dept passport processing times, which are horrendously slow. None of it makes sense…the State Dept has been issuing passports forever, it’s not a new task. But instead of accountability and desire to improve, everybody just blames muh covid and muh budget. But, as shown by replies here, “woe is me, the poor .gov worker”.
I had a good experience this time.
Sent medical in, received confirmations od receipt and subsequent evaluation. Approved to print and issued. About 30 days. Yes it was about 2 weeks slower tha. Last time, but not unhappy with the result.
For a raise of grade domestic same timeline. About a month from email to issue and sent by mail.
I have understood that other delays, besides those from incorrect or mishandled paperwork, stem from issues with printing the full book. Printing medical certs and stickers seems to be flowing better.
I did look into the job posting on usajobs.gov and also looked at property prices in WV. Now i just have to wonder at quality of life for family and if it is worth it or too idealistic to try and be part of the solution and helping from the inside.