The National Maritime Center (NMC) and Regional Examination Centers (RECs) have resumed operations following a federal government shutdown that lasted over five weeks. They are gradually restoring services to manage the large number of applications and exam requests that piled up during the closure.

With federal funding back in place, the NMC and RECs can start processing the thousands of mariner credential applications that accumulated. However, walk-in and scheduled services at RECs will stay suspended until November 21, as staff focus on clearing the backlog of applications and setting up examinations.

Mariners who had their exams canceled during the shutdown will be prioritized in the first five business days of resumed operations. The earliest available testing date at most RECs is November 18, 2025. Affected mariners will be contacted directly by their REC to arrange rescheduling.

“The NMC recognizes that the shutdown impacts our industry customers and stakeholders, and we apologize for any inconvenience caused,” said Capt. Patrick A. Drayer, Officer in Charge of Marine Inspections.

The Coast Guard has extended Merchant Mariner Credentials and Medical Certificates that expired in October and November 2025 until January 31, 2026. This temporary relief is for mariners whose documents expired during the shutdown. Those sailing with expired credentials must carry the expired documents along with a copy of the Coast Guard's extension letter.

Starting on November 24, RECs are set to return to regular operations, including scheduling exams for all mariners. Some locations may still have limited services due to ongoing staffing shortages.

This shutdown, which began on October 1 after the previous continuing resolution expired, is now the longest in U.S. history. It affected around 900,000 federal workers who were furloughed, while over 2 million continued to work without pay.

The National Maritime Center acts as the central authority for credentialing within the U.S. Coast Guard, responsible for evaluating applications and issuing Merchant Mariner Credentials and medical certificates. In 2024, the NMC processed almost 75,000 requests for mariner credentials and 66,000 applications for medical certificates.

During the shutdown, the submission of applications and supporting documents via email remained operational, although processing was halted until funding was restored.

The extensions granted during the shutdown apply only to domestic operations and do not include STCW endorsements. Additional extensions were given for approval to test letters, mariner training course completion certificates, and Qualified Assessor and Designated Examiner certifications.