The U.S. Coast Guard wants to drop six training and competency requirements for some Merchant Mariner Credential endorsements. They argue that these rules go beyond international standards and create unnecessary expenses for American mariners.
These proposed changes were included in a notice of rulemaking published in the Federal Register. They relate to endorsements issued under the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, or STCW.
The changes would affect Masters and Officers in Charge of a Navigational Watch on vessels under 500 gross tons in near-coastal waters, along with certain engineering officers, Designated Duty Engineers, and Electro-technical Ratings on vessels with propulsion machinery of 750 kilowatts (1,000 horsepower) or more.
If approved, the Coast Guard would eliminate the need for leadership and managerial skills training for Masters of smaller vessels in near-coastal areas. This would also include bridge resource management training and leadership and teamwork competency for certain Officers in Charge of Navigational Watch; Engineering Terminology and Shipboard Operations training for engineering officers; and training on Computer Systems and High Voltage Power Systems for Electro-technical Ratings.
These requirements were introduced when the Coast Guard adopted regulations in 2013 following the 2010 amendments to the STCW Convention. Now, the Coast Guard believes these six requirements are not necessary for safe vessel operation and are not mandated by U.S. law or international STCW standards.
For deck officers on vessels under 500 GT in near-coastal waters, the Coast Guard noted that bridge teams usually consist of just one credentialed mariner, who takes on multiple roles like OICNW, helmsman, and lookout. Because of this limited staffing, the agency argues that additional requirements for bridge resource management and team leadership provide little safety advantage.
The Coast Guard emphasized that these requirements will still be in place for deck officers on larger vessels of 500 GT or more, or those operating on ocean routes, where bridge teams typically involve several crew members.
Regarding engineering officers, the Coast Guard stated that the Engineering Terminology and Shipboard Operations course overlaps with knowledge already gained through their broader engineering training, onboard service, and examinations.
The same reasoning applies to the proposed removal of Computer Systems and Maintenance and High Voltage Power Systems training for Electro-technical Ratings, as they work under the direct supervision of credentialed officers.
The Coast Guard estimates that around 825 mariners each year would benefit from these changes. They project about $42.8 million in total cost savings over ten years, mainly from reduced tuition, travel, and time spent in training. The agency estimates annual savings of around $6.1 million over this ten-year period.
Additionally, the proposal aims to correct several outdated regulations, including a Radar Observer requirement that was mistakenly duplicated and transitional language related to a deadline from January 1, 2017, that has already passed.
These requirements were identified during a broader review of federal regulations under the regulatory reform initiatives of the previous administration.
The proposed rule, titled "Clarification of Certain Mariner Training Requirements," was published on October 1 and is available under docket USCG-2025-0392. Comments on the proposal are due by December 30, 2026.