Marine Documents – Where to Start

Working on the Water – What Maritime Documents Do I Need

Most mariners will need at least two credentials to work in the US, and a third if you will be working internationally.

First you will need a TWIC to get started because the TSA does the first background check on you.

Next  apply to the Coast Guard for your MerchantMarineCredential (MMC). There is no need to visit a Coast Guard Regional Examination Center (REC), you can now download the application and physical examination forms and the Drug Screening Form from the USCG NMC website then after completing the forms and physical you can mail them directly to a REC their addresses are listed at this link.

Because the Coast Guard and TSA share your personal information, this speeds up the processes and save you your time and money getting to a REC.

If you are going to be working overseas, go ahead and get a passport application from your local Post Office, they can tell you where you can take it to get it processed. I was able to take my passport application to my county clerk here in Virginia for processing.

All three credentials are fairly easy to get. Most of the bugs have been worked out by the mariners that needed these credentials earlier in 2009. Some mariners reallystruggled to get them just so they could continue working.