To renew your USCG License with STCW on it using just small vessel Small Vessel Sea Service time it's recommended that you get a memo from every vessel you have sea service for on their company letterhead that states.
"YOUR NAME served on VESSEL NAME from START DATE to END DATE. VESSEL NAME is required to conduct regular fire, emergency, and abandon ship drills. YOUR NAME’s service includes ongoing participation in training and drills relevant to Basic Training.”
That being said there are two paths you can take and the decision is up to you. No matter what you will need to take one of two courses, a Basic Training Revalidation Class (Usually 1 or 2 days) or Basic Training Refresher Class (Usually 5 days) to renew your STCW portion.
Renewing STCW with Basic Training memos
We recommend doing the Basic Training Revalidation Class (Usually 1 or 2 days) as it's cheaper and easier but it does require additional paperwork when using a CG719S as the form doesn't state that you were doing drills like a company sea service letter or Certificate of Discharge for larger vessels, To take a Basic Training Revalidation Class (Usually 1 or 2 days), you need a total of 360 sea days that have a memo stating the quote below backing up your CG719S's.
This means a memo from every vessel you have sea service for on their company letterhead that states.
"YOUR NAME served on VESSEL NAME from START DATE to END DATE. VESSEL NAME is required to conduct regular fire, emergency, and abandon ship drills. YOUR NAME’s service includes ongoing participation in training and drills relevant to Basic Training.”
Renewing STCW without the Basic Training memos
If you can't get those memos then you need to take Basic Training Refresher Class (Usually 5 days) to renew your STCW portion. Plus an additional PSC course if you hold it.
Renewing without your STCW
If you don't want to renew your STCW then we can renew just your domestic endorsements but that is on a case by case basis and WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND RENEWING YOUR STCW IF YOU CAN
We hope this made your life a little easier and if you have other questions the MM-SEAS team is always here to help!
For a complete step-by-step guide to renewing your MMC, check out:
- OUPV Six-Pack License Renewal
- 25 Ton License Renewal
- 50 Ton License Renewal
- 100 Ton Captain License Renewal
Start with the Ultimate USCG License Renewal Checklist for a complete overview.
MM-SEAS is free to use on your own and if you need some more personalized help you can upgrade to MM-SEAS Expert Access inside of the site.
No matter what, when you are ready to submit your application you can do it yourself, or you can hand the whole thing to us. An MM-SEAS Navita Navigator walks you through submitting in Navita, the Coast Guard's new submission portal, on a short video call. No computer, or not up for a video call? Our team gets your application submitted to the Coast Guard for you anyway. A Stress-Free MMC is $399. Two MM-SEAS licensing experts check every page, we pay your Coast Guard fees at submission and charge your card so you never touch pay.gov, and we stay on it with the National Maritime Center until your credential is issued.
MM-SEAS Expert Access is $99 a year. It is your personal guidance counselor for USCG licensing: what training you need next, which sea time counts, and how to reach the credential you want, by phone, email, chat or a 1 on 1 video call. Expert Access members also get $50 off a Stress-Free MMC.
Need to renew, upgrade or get your first USCG license? We're here to help.
About the author
Nate Gilman is President and Co-Founder of MM-SEAS. He hawsepiped from the deck to a 3rd Mate Unlimited license with full STCW compliance over more than 15 years at sea, and is a veteran of the NOAA Commissioned Corps. He works directly with the National Maritime Center, USCG-approved training schools, and vessel operators on credentialing policy, and writes on sea service documentation, evaluation standards, and how mariners move up the license ladder.
