This isn't a list of every maritime website. It's the short list I'd give a new mariner: where to find the official answer, and when to use each site instead of relying on a school, a forum or a friend.
Every website name below is a live link. Click the name to open the official site. Names without ↗ are Mariners Online guides.
Coast Guard & credentials · Forms & checklists · Regulations · Training · Careers & industry · Navigation & weather
Coast Guard & credentials
| Website — Click to Visit | Use it when… |
|---|---|
| National Maritime Center (NMC) | You need the official word on credentials: announcements, Navita access, processing updates and customer-service contacts. Start here before trusting any other source. |
| Navita (how to apply) | You're ready to apply, renew or upgrade. Our plain-English guide explains the Coast Guard's online system and links to the official login. |
| TSA: TWIC | You need to enroll for, renew or replace your Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC), or check current fees. |
Forms & checklists
| Website — Click to Visit | Use it when… |
|---|---|
| NMC credential checklists | You want the exact requirements for a specific endorsement. The checklist is what the evaluator uses, so check it before you pay for any course. |
| NMC forms | You need an official form, such as the CG-719B application, CG-719K medical form or CG-719S small-vessel sea service form. Always download the current version. |
| Mariners Online Downloads | You want our free printable checklists and logs, such as the First Maritime Job Checklist and the Cargo Transfer Log. |
Regulations & standards
| Website — Click to Visit | Use it when… |
|---|---|
| eCFR: Title 46, Shipping | You need the current text of a regulation. This is the official, updated-daily version of the Code of Federal Regulations. How to read the CFR → |
| Cornell Law: 46 CFR | You want an easier-to-read copy of the same regulations. Good for browsing; confirm anything important on eCFR. |
| NVICs: Merchant Mariner Credentialing | You need the Coast Guard's guidance on how a rule is applied, such as how sea service is credited. What NVICs are → |
| Federal Register | You hear about a proposed rule and want to read it or comment before it becomes final. Search "merchant mariner" or the rule's title. |
| IMO: STCW Convention | You want background on the international standard behind your STCW endorsements. For U.S. requirements, use the CFR and NMC checklists. What Is STCW? → |
Training
| Website — Click to Visit | Use it when… |
|---|---|
| How to check a course approval | Before you pay for any course. Approval belongs to specific courses, not to whole schools, and our guide shows how to confirm it with the NMC. |
| Class Finder: course dates | You know the course you need and want classes that fit the dates you're home. |
| VA GI Bill Comparison Tool | You're a veteran and want to know whether a school or course is approved for your GI Bill benefits. |
Careers & industry
| Website — Click to Visit | Use it when… |
|---|---|
| Who's Hiring (Mariners Online) | You're looking for work. Our list of government fleets and maritime employers, with links straight to their careers pages. |
| MARAD: Maritime education | You're exploring maritime academies and federal maritime training programs. |
| U.S. Merchant Marine Academy | You're considering Kings Point. Compare the academies → |
| USAJOBS | You want federal vessel jobs, such as Army Corps of Engineers dredges and survey boats. Search "deckhand", "marine engineer" or "vessel master". |
| Unions & hiring halls | You want to know which unions represent which jobs, and how hiring halls work. |
Navigation & weather
| Website — Click to Visit | Use it when… |
|---|---|
| USCG Navigation Center | You need the Navigation Rules (Rules of the Road), Light Lists or Local Notices to Mariners for your district. Free and official. |
| NOAA Coast Pilot | You're planning a passage and want the official supplement to the charts. All volumes are free to download. |
| NOAA nautical charts | You need current U.S. charts, including free electronic charts. |
| NOAA Tides & Currents | You need tide and current predictions, or live water levels. |
| National Weather Service: Marine | You need marine forecasts and warnings for coastal, offshore and Great Lakes waters. |
| NGA Maritime Safety Information | You need the weekly U.S. Notice to Mariners, broadcast warnings or Sailing Directions for foreign waters. |
THE CAPTAIN SAYS…
When a school, a recruiter and a forum all give you different answers, go to the source: the CFR and the NMC checklist. Bookmark this page and you'll always know where to look.
Mariners Online is independent and not affiliated with the Coast Guard or any agency or organization listed here. Websites change; if a link stops working, email captk@marinersonline.com.
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