Printer Friendly Page

New Orleans REC to reopen (7/18)

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued the following news release: COAST GUARD REGIONAL EXAMINATION CENTER RETURNS TO NEW ORLEANS WASHINGTON – After Hurricane Katrina forced its temporary relocation last year, the Coast Guard Regional Examination Center New Orleans will reopen July 28. The reopening of REC New Orleans coincides with other changes in the mariner licensing and documentation program that will result in central processing of all mariner applications at the National Maritime Center (NMC). Changes in the mariner licensing program will begin in September and will be completed nationwide by the summer of 2008. The NMC will be relocated to Martinsburg, W.V. during 2007 as part of this process. REC New Orleans will offer fingerprinting, examinations, and identification verification services for merchant mariner applications. Beginning in September, applications submitted to REC New Orleans will be reviewed in West Virginia as part of the first phase of the consolidated mariner credential issuing process. Applications received by REC New Orleans before September will be processed by other RECs. Applicants will be notified if their applications are forwarded. Application process changes at other RECs will be rolled out in phases as the consolidation of the mariner credential issuing process moves forward. Since Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in August 2005, the employees of the REC have carried out the mariner licensing and documentation mission in Memphis, Tenn. The new address of REC New Orleans is: Commander, Sector New Orleans Regional Examination Center 201 Old Hammond Hwy. Metairie, La. 70005 (504)219-2719 Additional information on program changes may be obtained on the Internet at http://www.uscg.mil/stcw/index.htm ###