Document ID: USCG-2021-0734-0001
Agency: uscg
Document Type: Notice
Title: Policy Letter: Change 1 to CG–MMC Policy Letter 02–18, Guidelines for Qualifications of Personnel for Issuing STCW Endorsements for Basic and Advanced Polar Code Operations
Posted Date: 2021-10-05T04:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 190 (Tuesday, October 5, 2021)]
[Notices]
[Pages 54992-54993]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-21633]

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[Docket No. USCG-2021-0734]

Policy Letter: Change 1 to CG-MMC Policy Letter 02-18, Guidelines 
for Qualifications of Personnel for Issuing STCW Endorsements for Basic 
and Advanced Polar Code Operations

AGENCY: Coast Guard, Homeland Security (DHS).

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Coast Guard announces the availability of Change 1 to CG-
MMC Policy Letter 02-18, Guidelines for Qualifications of Personnel for 
Issuing STCW Endorsements for Basic and Advanced Polar Code Operations. 
The Coast Guard will use applicable regulations and this policy to 
evaluate whether mariners may be issued endorsements for Basic and 
Advanced Polar Code Operations.

DATES: The policies announced in Change 1 to CG-MMC Policy Letter 02-18 
are effective as of September 20, 2021.

[[Page 54993]]

ADDRESSES: To view the policy letter mentioned in this notice, search 
the docket number USCG-2021-0734 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal 
at https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For information about this document, 
contact James Cavo, Mariner Credentialing Program Policy Division (CG-
MMC-2), Coast Guard; telephone 202-372-1205; email MMCPolicy@uscg.mil.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This change revises CG-Policy Letter 02-18 
to include the requirements for renewal of Basic and Advanced Polar 
Code Operations endorsements. Renewal requirements for these 
endorsements were not included in the original policy letter. Methods 
to qualify for renewal of an STCW endorsement in Polar Code Operations 
will include completion of refresher training, evidence of being a 
qualified instructor of a Basic or Advanced Polar Code Operations 
course at least twice within the past five years, or sea service.
    The professional requirements to renew a merchant mariner 
credential (MMC) in 46 CFR 10.227 include the option to present 
evidence of at least 1 year of sea service during the past 5 years. 
However, Section A-I/11 paragraph 4.1 of the STCW Code only requires 2 
months of seagoing service within the previous 5 years for renewal of 
Basic and Advanced Polar Code endorsements. To align with the STCW 
requirements and to ensure the seagoing service requirement for the 
renewal of a Polar Code Operations endorsement does not exceed the 
seagoing service requirement to initially qualify for Polar Code 
Operations endorsement, the seagoing service requirement for renewal of 
Polar Code Operations endorsements will be 2 months of seagoing service 
in the previous 5 years. Mariners will also need to meet the applicable 
requirements in 46 CFR 10.227 for the renewal of their MMC.
    This change also removes transitional provisions that expired on 
July 1, 2020.
    This notice is issued under authority of 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Dated: September 20, 2021.
J.G. Lantz,
U.S. Coast Guard, Director of Commercial Regulations and Standards.
[FR Doc. 2021-21633 Filed 10-4-21; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-04-P