April 29, 2024
This policy letter is effective immediately and will remain in effect indefinitely. As noted in the announcement, “This policy letter will allow mariners to renew a merchant mariner credential up to 6 years after its expiration without taking the complete originial examination.”
You can read a PDF of the policy letter here.
March 25, 2023
Reporting Sexual Misconduct on U.S. Vessels
Sexual misconduct that occurs onboard U.S. flagged vessels harms mariners, interrupts safe operations, and often leads to accidents, lost careers, and a lifetime of trauma for the survivors who endure the abuse. The Coast Guard is committed to investigating and pursuing appropriate enforcement actions for all reports of sexual misconduct on U.S. flagged vessels. This MSIB supersedes the Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy’s MSIB 11-21 “Reporting Sexual Assaults on U.S. Vessels” issued on December 16, 2021.
Recent changes to the law now require the responsible entity of a vessel, defined as the owner, master, or managing operator, to report any complaint or incident of harassment, sexual harassment, or sexual assault to the Coast Guard that violates company policy. To help facilitate reporting, the Coast Guard has consolidated reporting for all types of sexual misconduct and established multiple reporting options as detailed in the attached graphic. The reporting options include a CGIS Tips App, and/or the email address CGISTIPS@uscg.mil which can be used by all reporting sources, including bystanders and survivors, who have access to a smart phone or the internet. The reports, which can be anonymous or for attribution, are received and reviewed by the Coast Guard Investigative Service (CGIS). An investigation will be initiated for all reports received and someone will provide follow-up communications with all reporting sources who provide contact information. The Coast Guard also maintains a 24/7 watch, which can field reports of sexual misconduct via the National Command Center (NCC) phone number at 202-327-2100. CGIS will leverage all available resources to immediately initiate a criminal investigation for a sexual crime occurring on a U.S. flagged vessel anywhere in the world. The Coast Guard will respond to any reports of sexual misconduct with trained investigators and will hold offenders accountable through criminal prosecution and/or actions against U.S. Coast Guard issued merchant mariner credentials (MMCs).
If the responsible entity in charge of a U.S. flagged vessel makes a report, including providing detailed contact information for further follow-up, of a sexual misconduct incident through CGIS Tips, via the CGIS email at CGISTIPS@uscg.mil, or the NCC’s phone line the report will satisfy the reporting requirements of 46 U.S. Code § 10104(a).
March 24, 2023
Fire Safety of Small Passenger Vessels; OMB Approval of Information Collection Request
The Coast Guard announces that it has received approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an information collection request associated with the interim rule requirements for fire safety on certain covered small passenger vessels. This rule announces the effective dates for the requirements for vessel operators to log the occurrence of passenger emergency egress drills and to post passenger safety bills in overnight accommodation spaces. In the interim rule, we stated we would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of the collection-of-information related sections upon OMB approval. This rule establishes April 24, 2023 as the effective date for those sections.
March 24, 2023
Interim Rule: Fire safety of small passenger vessels; OMB approval of information collection request
The Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that it has received approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an information collection request associated with the interim rule requirements for fire safety on certain covered small passenger vessels. This rule announces the effective dates for the requirements for vessel operators to log the occurrence of passenger emergency egress drills and to post passenger safety bills in overnight accommodation spaces. In the interim rule, we stated we would publish a document in the Federal Register announcing the effective date of the collection-of-information related sections upon OMB approval. This rule establishes April 24, 2023 as the effective date for those sections.
June 7, 2021
The following information and guidance is provided as an update and adjustment to previous University National Oceanographic Laboratory System (UNOLS) Guidance related to conducting science onboard U.S. Academic Research Fleet Vessels
(see: 1June2020 UNOLS COVID-19 Considerations For Conducting Seagoing Science and 11May2021 Update to UNOLS COVID-19 Guidance)
This update has been developed with advice and guidance provided by George Washington
Medical Faculty Associates.
Those elements of the previous UNOLS Guidance not addressed in the following paragraphs
remain in effect.
Based on the below stated (see “Background”) observations, recommendations, guidelines and
published data, the following changes are made to previously issued UNOLS guidelines for
consideration in conducting oceanographic research on U.S Academic Research Fleet vessels. In
all cases, the Vessel Operators and Chief Scientists can choose to use more strict protocols if
this is deemed appropriate for any reason.
UNOLS continues to highly recommend that cruises sail only with fully vaccinated personnel.
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Navigating the Regulatory Seas 