In the News

Collisions, groundings, piracy, rescues -- bad things, inexplicable things and, as in the freeing of Capt. Richard Phillips, very good things happen.  Here is our record of such events as they come to our attention.   Read More

On the Quarter

National Maritime Center

The National Maritime Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, is the US Coast Guard's processing center for all mariner licensing and credential transactions.  The website provides information for new mariners, continuing mariners, returning mariners -- license and STCW requirements, applications, policy and guidance.  It also enables the mariner to check on the status of his or her pending application.  Read More

Regulation Watch

Mariners increasingly find themselves beset by regulations from a variety of sources.  We will try to alert you here to significant changes (proposed and enacted) to maritime laws, affecting licensing requirements, examination procedures and documentation requirements as found in the Federal Register, USCG Navigation and Inspection Circulars (NVICs), Policy and Guidance Statements. Read More

Obtaining a Towing License

Over the last several years there have been significant changes in the licensing requirements for operators of towing vessels.  It used to be that licenses authorizing operation on inspected vessels would satisfy the requirements for most towing vessels of lesser or equal tonnage.  This is no longer the case.  There are now several ways to become an officer on a towing vessel, ranging from the entry level Apprentice Steersman to service-in-training while holding a previously issued license.  Read More