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The Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register the availability of change 2 to Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 02-18, Guidelines on Qualification for STCW Endorsements as Officer in Charge of a Navigational Watch of Vessels of Less Than 500 GT.

This NVIC provides guidance to mariners concerning regulations governing endorsements to Merchant Mariner Credentials for service on vessels of less than 500 Gross Tons (GT) (i.e., not limited to near-coastal waters). This change notice revises NVIC 02-18 to indicate that the Coast Guard will not enforce the 3 month maximum allowable substitution for credible sea service in a rating capacity.

The policies announced in Change-2 to NVIC 02-18 are effective as of August 26, 2021.

To view documents and CH-2 NVIC 02-18 mentioned in this notice, search the docket number USCG-2021-0407 using the Federal eRulemaking Portal at https://www.regulations.gov.

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

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