Coast Guard issues New Mariner Certification Form

The Coast Guard began issuing a newly revised U.S. STCW Endorsement, Form CG-5611 (Rev. 01-05), yesterday to qualified licensed and unlicensed merchant mariners. Over 59,000 U.S. merchant mariners hold a valid STCW endorsement. Mariners’ existing endorsements will be replaced at the time of their scheduled expiration or when their qualifications are upgraded. The new document contains significant security and accountability enhancements. The design is based on the U.S. Merchant Marine Officer License (Form CG-2849) and advice by senior intelligence officers at the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Forensics Document Laboratory for cost-effective, fraud-resistant features; and the Production and Design Team of the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing (BEP). The revised U.S. STCW Endorsement exceeds International Maritime Organization standards on anti-fraud measures and forgery prevention features for seafarers’ certificates. Additionally, a revised U.S. STCW Endorsement information sheet was designed and printed by the BEP and has been distributed domestically to Regional Exam Centers (RECs), inspectors, unions and industry; and internationally to the IMO and foreign national maritime administrations. It was also printed as a "center-fold" in the Summer 2005 issue of the Coast Guard Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council. The magazine’s total distribution is over 10,000 copies. This effort continues security enhancements to merchant mariner credentials begun in 2002 with the U.S. Merchant Marine Officer License and in 2003 with the Merchant Mariner's Document. A copy of the Revised U.S. STCW Endorsement Information Sheet can be obtained by registering for a free subscription on the USCG Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council at http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/. It is posted on the National Maritime Center’s website, http://www.uscg.mil/stcw.