MMC Endorsements are based on sea service – Using recency, positions, tonnage, and routes.

What counts as sea service?

• Sea service is a measure of a mariner’s lifetime experience on boats, whether recreational, commercial, or military. It may be counted from the day a mariner turns age 16 and accumulates over his or her lifetime.
• A day of sea service is any day that a mariner served upon a vessel in an assigned position in either the deck or engineering department of a vessel (not a passenger). The position may include duties such as: handling lines, being a lookout, steering the boat, and other navigational or propulsion functions. 
• Sea service never expires and may be reused when applying for new endorsements. It is the mariner’s responsibility to keep copies of all sea service records.

What counts as a “day”?

• A “day,” as defined by the regulations, is 8 hours of watch-standing or day-working, not to include overtime. 
• Only on vessels of less than 100 gross registered tons (GRT): Credit for a full day will only be given for service of 4 hours or more (See 46 CFR 10.107, definition of “Day”). No credit will ever be given for days in which less than 4 hours were served. 
• For the purposes of defining sea service requirements, the Coast Guard considers 1 month as 30 days, and 1 year as 12 months (or 360 days).

When can I claim time-and-a-half credit?

• For most vessels, no additional credit may be received for periods served over 8 hours. However, on vessels authorized by 46 U.S.C. 8104, 46 CFR 15.705, and the vessel’s manning requirements to operate a two-watch system, a 12-hour working day may in some cases be creditable as 1 1/2 days of service. 
• If you work on a vessel operating with a Coast Guard authorized six-on-six-off watch system with only two watch standing officers (i.e., certain crew boats, supply boats, towboats and some commercial fishing boats), you may claim 1 1/2 days for each 12- hour day worked. Review vessels Certificate of Inspection manning statement. 
• For more information on this topic, please see 12 Hour Day / Time-and-a-Half Credit.

Reference(s): 46 CFR 10.232, USCG FAQ,

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Contact: C. Spence & Maritime Associates

Phone: 206.788.0491

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