Washington Waves: Waterway News From D. C.

Addressing the impact of processing delays on a specific group of merchant mariners, the National Maritime Center (NMC) announced case-specific relief for those with qualifying renewal credential applications.

NMC stated the relief is separate from the temporary extensions that expired August 31 and applies only to mariners meeting eligibility criteria.

A mariner may qualify for a temporary 120-day authorization to continue sailing under the authority of an expired credential as follows:

Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) (national endorsements only) that expired between January 1, 2026, and July 31, 2026;

A renewal application submitted to the NMC before the credential expired, but no later than August 26;

The NMC evaluation results in a letter requesting additional information to complete the evaluation or the NMC issues an Approved to Test letter.

For eligible applications, the NMC will issue a temporary authorization letter in conjunction with the applicable request for additional information or approval to test letter. This letter allows the mariner to continue operating under the authority of the affected national endorsements for 120 days from the date the NMC issues the letter. Mariners must carry their expired credential and authorization letter while sailing under the authority of the affected national endorsements.

The NMC will not issue separate or replacement MMCs reflecting the temporary authorization.

The temporary authorization applies only to national endorsements and does not extend the validity of any Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) endorsements or medical certificates.

Additionally, the authorization is only valid for the specific application for which the NMC issued it.

For questions, contact the Customer Service Center via the NMC online chat system, by e-mailing IASKNMC@uscg.mil or by calling 1-888-IASKNMC (427-5662).

Vessel And Shipyard Financing Program

The Maritime Administration (MarAd) is requesting comments on an interim final rule revising its regulations implementing the Vessel and Shipyard Financing Program financial and programmatic requirements.

“Specifically, MarAd implements statutory changes, updates the vessel project and shipyard project financing requirements imposed on Title XI Program borrowers, aligns the Title XI Program with modern federal credit best practices, corrects numerous legal citations, improves accessibility by modernizing text and removes obsolete references,” the agency stated.

“This rule also streamlines the MarAd Title XI regulations by removing 14 of 34 sections of the existing regulations.” This interim final rule was effective August 28.

Comments must be submitted by October 27 and may be submitted identified by Docket No. MarAd-2026-1288 via www.regulations.gov or Mail/Hand-Delivery/Courier at Docket Management Facility: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Room W12-140, Washington, DC 20590.

For confirmation that comments have reached the facility, a stamped, self-addressed postcard should be enclosed.

For additional information, contact David Gilmore at 202-366-5737 or marinefinancing@dot.gov.

Hurricane Safety Zones

The Coast Guard issued a final rule on establishing a safety zone in the navigable waters within the Sector Mobile Captain of the Port (COTP) zone to be enforced in the event of hurricanes, tropical storms and other severe weather events.

“The Gulf Coast of Mississippi, Alabama and northwest Florida has the potential to be affected by hurricanes, tropical storms or other severe weather events on a yearly basis, especially between the months of June and November,” the Coast Guard stated.

“These storms and other events create hazardous conditions in the port, including but not limited to damaging winds, storm surge and heavy waves, inaccurate or off-station aids-to-navigation and the potential for navigational obstructions. The purpose of this rulemaking is to establish a permanent safety zone regulation to allow for quick activation of limited access areas needed to protect mariners, port infrastructure and the environment before, during and after extreme weather events.”

The service added that the regulation establishes requirements for industry and vessel operators in the Mobile COTP zone to ensure the safety of the ports and waters within the zone prior to, during and immediately following these events.

Effective September 28, the rule can be viewed at https:// www.regulations.gov under USCG–2024–0465.

For additional information, contact Marine Science Technician Chief Petty Officer Stacy Stevenson at 251-382-8653 or Sectormobilewaterways@ uscg.mil.

Ballast Water Notice Withdrawn

The Coast Guard issued a notice advising federal, state and local governmental agencies and the public that it is withdrawing the Notice of Intent (NOI) to prepare a Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS) for the Consideration for Acceptance of One or More Viability Testing Methods for Type Approval of Ballast Water Management Systems.

Published on August 21, 2024, the NOI to prepare a PEIS was withdrawn as of August 27. Related information on the NOI is available at Docket No. USCG-2025-0501 at https:// www.regulations.gov.

“Since publication of the NOI, the Coast Guard has re-evaluated the purpose and need for the proposed action and determined we have insufficient information available to evaluate the NOI’s proposed viability test methods in accordance with our process laid out in CG–OES Policy Letter 02–22,” the service said.

“As such, this type of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review is not practicable at this time. Therefore, the Coast Guard is terminating this NEPA review process by withdrawing its NOI to prepare a PEIS.”

For additional information, contact Cmdr. Brad Peifer at 571-608-7869 or CG-OES@uscg.mil.

Streamlined Inspection Program

The Coast Guard is seeking comments on the draft Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 02-99, Change 1, Guidance on the Streamlined Inspection Program.

According to the service, the NVIC would modernize the program guidance to reflect industry advancements in digital recordkeeping, maintenance management systems and third-party auditing.

“This update would emphasize a risk-based verification model that reduces redundant physical inspections, broadens acceptable compliance formats and provides updated procedures for deficiency management and temporary hull repairs,” the Coast Guard stated.

Comments must be submitted via https:// www.regulations.gov by September 23 under Docket No.USCG-2026-0041.

For additional information, contact Lt. Cmdr. Samuel Rodriguez at 571-608-7959 or Samuel.Rodriguez-Gonzalez@uscg.mil.