US Coast Guard changes STCW certification guidelines for Polar Code Operations

United States Coast Guard has issued Change 2 to Guidelines for Qualifications of Personnel for Issuing STCW Endorsements for Basic and Advanced Polar Code Operations.

Within the Discussion chapter of this document, the United States Coast Guard claims:

We have become aware of confusion concerning the renewal of Polar Code Operations endorsements when a mariner holds both Basic and Advanced Polar Code Operations.

This change to the policy letter adds clarification for the renewal of Polar Code endorsements.

For mariners holding endorsements for both Basic and Advanced Polar Code Operations endorsements, they may renew both endorsements if they meet the requirements for renewal of the Advanced Polar Code Operations.

This change also clarifies how long training under transitional provisions will be accepted for an original endorsement.

For more information, please see the link below:

RELEVANT DOCUMENT (AVAILABLE ONLY TO SUBSCRIBERS):

Change 2 to Guidelines for Qualifications of Personnel for Issuing STCW Endorsements for Basic and Advanced Polar Code Operations