(WASHINGTON) — Funding for the federal government has been restored, and the National Maritime Center (NMC) and Regional Examination Centers (RECs) are in the process of resuming services to mariners. Full resumption of services at the RECs will be phased in to allow prioritization of the most critical services and to accommodate mariners most impacted by the furlough.
Email submission of applications and supporting documentation remains active. Walk-in and scheduled counter service at the RECs will remain suspended through Nov. 21 to allow REC employees to prioritize the backlog in screening applications and scheduling mariner examinations.
To prioritize mariners whose examinations were canceled during the furlough, the RECs will focus on rescheduling these examinations during the first five business days. The earliest available date for these mariners to start testing at most RECs will be Nov. 18. Mariners whose examinations were canceled during the furlough will be contacted by the REC to reschedule new examination dates.
Starting Nov. 24, RECs are expected to return to routine operations, including availability to schedule exams for all mariners. Because of existing staffing shortages, some RECs may continue to have limited services.
For updates on NMC and REC operating statuses, monitor the NMC website. For questions, contact the Customer Service Center via the NMC online chat system, by emailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil, or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).
– National Maritime Center
