Approved Training in ECDIS Required

The Coast Guard published a Policy Letter concerning training in Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (ECDIS) stating that officers must complete an approved course in ECDIS or their authority will be limited to vessels that are not equipped with that equipment.

Over 19,000 active mariners hold an STCW Deck Officer endorsement. Of those, approximately 17,000 mariners (just over 90%) have an email address on file with the Coast Guard National Maritime Center. The Coast Guard has announced that the following email text will be sent to those mariners:

Our records indicate you hold an STCW deck officer endorsement. The Coast Guard recently published Policy Letter 12-07 which is available on the NMC website http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/stcw. As this Policy Letter explains, in order for an STCW endorsement for officer in charge of a navigational watch (OICNW), chief mate, or master to remain valid for service on vessels equipped with electronic chart display information systems (ECDIS) after December 31, 2016, you must complete a Coast Guard approved or accepted ECDIS course. The Coast Guard has been approving ECDIS courses for several years in anticipation of a requirement for ECDIS training, and will continue to do so. Mariners who have completed Coast Guard approved or accepted ECDIS courses in the past will not need to take additional training. Approved courses can be found at http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/courses.

All applicants for an STCW deck officer endorsement who have not provided proof of approved ECDIS training will receive the following limitation: “Not valid for service on ECDIS equipped vessels after December 31, 2016” at your next application. If you have already submitted the course completion certificate to the Coast Guard with a previous application package, please include that information in your application package and we will retrieve that information from your file.

If you have an application currently in process with the Coast Guard and you have already taken one of the Coast Guard approved or accepted courses, please contact the NMC at [email protected] or 1-888-IASKNMC (1-888-427-5662) if you would like to submit that course completion certificate to your application already in progress.

If you are issued an STCW deck officer endorsement with this limitation, you may continue to serve on ECDIS equipped vessels until December 31, 2016 and can have the limitation removed at any time, free of charge, by submitting a credential application (CG-719B) requesting a modification and including your course completion certificate. Submit your application to one of the Regional Exam Centers and you will receive an endorsement label to add to your MMC reflecting the removal of the limitation.

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Houston Marine is now offering Coast Guard approved ECDIS courses. For registration and scheduling information call 1-800-947-7737.