A Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) is valid for 5 years from the date of issuance. After the expiration date, the MMC enters a 6 year grace period where the mariner can renew their license rather than apply for a new license.
What is the grace period?
An expired MMC may be renewed during an administrative grace period of up to 6 years beyond its expiration date. A credential may be renewed at any time during its validity and for 6 years after expiration. A mariner may not serve under the authority of an MMC past its expiration date.
For a credential to be re-issued by the Coast Guard after the 6 year grace period, the applicant must meet all the requirements of obtaining an original MMC.
If an applicant's credential expires during a time of military service and there’s no reasonable opportunity for renewal, including by mail, the grace period may be extended.
The 6 year grace period and any extensions don’t affect the expiration date of the credential. A license, MMD, COR, STCW endorsement, MMC, and any endorsements, are not valid for use after the expiration date. Once your license expires, you can’t continue working under its credentials.
What happens when the grace period ends?
If you apply for re-issuance of an endorsement as deck officer, engineer officer, or qualified rating more than 6 years after its expiration, you can demonstrate continued professional knowledge by completing a USCG-approved course, or pass the complete examination for original issue of the endorsement.
If you fail to renew your license within the 6 years after it has expired, you’ll need to retake the captain’s license exam.
If you’re applying for re-issuance of an endorsement as master or mate of towing vessels after the grace period, you must complete the practical demonstration of maneuvering and handling a towing vessel specified in 46 CFR 10.227.
If you’re applying for re-issuance of an endorsement as any tankerman rating after the grace period of the previous endorsement you must meet the requirements for an original endorsement (46 CFR 13.117).
To avoid any issues and interruptions at work, the best thing to do is start the renewal process early. We recommend applying for your MMC renewal 6-8 months prior to the expiration date.
We've built MM-SEAS software to help you keep track of your important documents and get your renewal finished and submitted on time.
Document of Continuity
Before, or during, the 6 year grace period, mariners can apply for a Document of Continuity. If approved, the endorsements are placed in continuity and will be able to be renewed, rather than reinstated.
Applicants for renewal of national endorsements, who are unwilling or otherwise unable to meet the requirements of renewal, including but not limited to the medical and physical standards in 46 CFR Part 10, suitability standards of 46 CFR 10.211, drug tests, professional requirements, and TWIC, may apply for a Document of Continuity issued by the Coast Guard.
Documents of Continuity don’t expire and are issued solely to maintain an individual's eligibility for renewal. A Document of Continuity doesn’t entitle an individual to work or serve under the authority of their MMC.
Applications for a Document of Continuity must include the following:
- The endorsements that will be placed into continuity.
- An application including a signed statement from the applicant attesting to an awareness of the limited purpose of the Document of Continuity, his or her inability to serve, and the requirements to obtain an MMC.
No credentials can be converted into a Document of Continuity after the administrative grace period has ended.
MM-SEAS will automatically help you put your MMC into Continuity when you are 5 and a half years into your grace period.
We hope this made your life a little easier and if you have other questions the MM-SEAS team is always here to help!
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.
