Educational information only
Mariners Online (marinersonline.com) publishes general information about U.S. merchant mariner credentials, endorsements, sea service, exams, TWIC, and maritime careers. The content is for educational and informational purposes only. It is not legal advice, and it is not an official determination of any mariner’s eligibility for a credential or endorsement.
Use at your own risk: do your own due diligence
Everything on this site is provided for general information only. You use it at your own risk. Before you rely on anything here, whether it is a requirement, a deadline, a sea-time calculation, a form, a course, a drug-testing or medical rule, or a career decision, do your own due diligence and verify it with the official source. You are responsible for your own applications, answers, and decisions.
Not legal, medical, or professional advice
Nothing on this site is legal, medical, drug-testing, employment, financial, or other professional advice. Pages that discuss drug and alcohol testing, criminal history, driving records, medical fitness, medications, or application disclosures explain general rules only. They cannot tell you how those rules apply to your record. Only the U.S. Coast Guard, your employer, a Medical Review Officer, a court, or another authorized decision-maker can make a decision about your individual situation. For advice about your own circumstances, consult a qualified attorney, physician, licensing professional, or other appropriate advisor.
No professional relationship
Reading this site, using its tools, or contacting us by email does not create an attorney-client, doctor-patient, consultant, or other professional relationship. We cannot evaluate individual applications, records, or eligibility, and any general reply we send is information only.
Dates and currency
Pages show the date they were written or last reviewed. Information may be out of date by the time you read it. The date on a page is not a promise that it reflects current rules.
Not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard or any government agency
Mariners Online is an independent website. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard, the National Maritime Center (NMC), the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), the Department of Homeland Security, the Maritime Administration (MARAD), or any other government body. References to agencies, forms, and regulations are for identification and explanation only.
Always verify with official sources
Credentialing requirements change. Regulations (including 46 CFR Parts 10, 11, 12, and 13), NVICs, policy letters, fees, and processing practices are revised from time to time, and every evaluation depends on the mariner’s own documented sea service and history. Before you apply, pay for training, or make a career decision, confirm current requirements with the National Maritime Center, your Regional Exam Center, and the official text of the regulations. Where this site and an official source disagree, the official source controls.
Courses, schools, and training providers
Mentions of Coast Guard–approved courses, schools, or training providers are for convenience. Course approvals can expire, change, or be withdrawn. Confirm a course is currently approved for the exact endorsement you need before you enroll. Mariners Online does not guarantee the quality, availability, pricing, or outcome of any third-party course.
No guarantee of results
Study guides, sample questions, checklists, and advice on this site are meant to help you prepare. They do not guarantee that you will pass an exam, receive a credential, obtain a TWIC, or be hired. Sample questions are illustrative and are not actual Coast Guard examination questions unless expressly stated.
Safety and professional judgment
Nothing on this site replaces required training, your vessel’s safety management system, company procedures, the instructions of the master or chief engineer, or applicable law. Operational and safety information is general. Always follow approved procedures and the direction of qualified personnel aboard your vessel.
Accuracy and corrections
We work to keep content accurate and current, but we make no warranties, express or implied, about its completeness, accuracy, reliability, or timeliness. If you spot an error or something out of date, please tell us at captk@marinersonline.com so we can fix it.
Limitation of liability
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Mariners Online, its owner, and contributors are not liable for any loss or damage — including lost wages, missed employment, application fees, or training costs — arising from your use of, or reliance on, information on this site.
Personal experience and opinions
Articles in the Captain’s Log and similar sections reflect the author’s personal experience and opinions from years at sea and in maritime training. They are offered as perspective, not as official guidance.
Name and trademarks
Mariners Online is an independent maritime education website and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the Seattle Mariners, Major League Baseball, or any sports organization. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners and are used for identification only.