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Alert to Deep-Sea Seafarers (1/8)

In recognition of the present rapidly evolving circumstances, it is important that you promptly examine your documents necessary for shipping to make sure that these documents are not expired nor due to expire. Pursuant to the Shipping Rules, agreements, RFP requirements, and international USCG regulations, your documents must be valid for the entire period of employment; and, you cannot ship unless they are valid and current. Please take this time to double-check the expiration dates of your: Merchant mariner’s document (also known as an MMD or z-card) STCW-95 certificate (with endorsement as part of the deck/engine watchkeeping) Passport, ensuring that it is signed Clinic card Benzene card (if this applies to you, this card is required for all tankers) Registration card of being ready, willing, and available for work Drug-free confirmation, as issued by the port office after registering or testing INS green card, if allowed on certain vessels, (permanent resident card by the USA Immigration & Naturalization Service). Plus, Your inoculation (shots) card, updated with new shots when necessary Your TRB (training record book), ensuring that it is signed MSC (Military Sealift Command) medical records to carry to the ship, as applies Sufficient (for six months, or two voyages)Rx/prescription medication Extra glasses, when required for work Ensure that there is no urgently needed dental or medical work needed for six months. Also bear in mind that if you are going to be renewing your z-card/document, or license, within the last thirty days of applying for the renewal/replacement, you must get: a) New Department of Motor Vehicles Driver’s Record stating that you have not had any DUI or DWI in the last five years, which must be submitted with the application for the renewal of the MMD. Your state that issued your driver’s license will issue their "Motor Vehicle Report." Plus, b) The USCG will require a drug-free letter from the (SAMHSA laboratory) MRO (Medical Review Officer) that processed the “SAMHSA 5 Panel” drug-free examination (Graystone Lab in California) with the chain of custody receipt form issued at the examination. The USCG reportedly will no longer accept the drug-free confirmation letters issued by the designated signature-person from the port or admissions, as previously allowed by 46CFR16.230 Option II. You must fax (or mail) your request on the form available from the port office to the MRO. This is to request a specific drug-free letter will be sent to you; this letter is for submitting with your application for a new MMD, license, and/or STCW Certificate to the USCG. SAMHSA is the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This might become another delay when renewing or issuing an MMD. This is part of the USCG’s Application Form CG-719-B (OMB-2115-0514). Also, note that it has been taking at least seven weeks for the Baltimore Coast Guard regional exam center (REC) to process applications, and even longer at some other RECs. Your union and your nation need you to be ready, with bags standing by – ready to fulfill the U.S. Merchant Marine’s role as America’s Fourth Arm of Defense.