Press Releases

This week, U.S. Representatives Salud Carbajal (D-CA-24) and Mike Ezell (R-MS-4) introduced the Mariner Exam Modernization Act, which directs the U.S. Coast Guard to develop and implement a plan to modernize the Merchant Mariner Credentialing exam, aiming to eliminate redundancies and improve efficiency within 270 days of receiving recommendations from a dedicated working group.

“The men and women pursuing careers in the maritime industry shouldn’t be held back by an antiquated credentialing system,” said Rep. Carbajal. “The Mariner Exam Modernization Act is a commonsense step to ensure our licensing process reflects the skills mariners actually need on the job—eliminating redundancy, updating outdated requirements, and making the path to certification more efficient. This legislation is about strengthening our maritime workforce and ensuring the Coast Guard’s processes keep pace with the needs of the 21st century.”

“Our mariners deserve a credentialing system that reflects the realities of today’s maritime industry—not outdated exams and unnecessary hurdles. I’m proud to co-lead the Mariner Modernization Act to bring transparency, accountability, and real-world input to the process. This is about building up America’s maritime workforce and supporting the professionals who keep America’s maritime commerce moving safely and efficiently,” said Rep. Ezell. 

"USA Maritime supports the effort to modernize the licensing exam for merchant marine officers through the Mariner Exam Modernization Act.  The maritime industry continues to evolve and change, but the Coast Guard's licensing exam hasn't.  The Mariner Exam Modernization Act will remove redundancies, ensure testing isn't duplicative with other licensing requirements, and align testing with the realities of serving in the 21st century merchant marine. We look forward to working with Congress to pass this bill and remove one more impediment to creating new Merchant Marine officers,” said Brian Schoeneman, Chairman, USA Maritime.

"Transportation Institute supports the Mariner Exam Modernization Act and applauds Congressman Carbajal for his leadership in solving the mariner workforce crisis.  His dedication to the American mariner is remarkable, and we are grateful to have his support as we address this challenge together,” said Sara Fuentes, Vice President, Government Affairs, Transportation Institute.

"The Navy League of the United States has long championed the importance of the American mariner to our national and economic security.  We are proud to support Congressman Carbajal's Mariner Exam Modernization Act as part of the effort to grow our maritime workforce,” said Mike Stevens, Navy League CEO and 13th Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy.

“The Consortium of State Maritime Academies strongly supports the "Mariner Exam Modernization Act". This legislation will reduce the redundancy between The STCW Code and the National Exam. It will also eliminate the requirement for the Academies to dedicate time in the academic program on subjects that are outdated, and not currently used by professional mariners.  Additionally, it will substantially increase the value of the exam review teams (working groups).  Collectively, these efforts will allow us to assist with the goal of alleviating the current mariner shortage,” said G. P. Achenbach, Ed. Rear Admiral, U.S. Maritime Service, President, Consortium of State Maritime Academies.

The current Coast Guard licensing exam process for Merchant Mariner Credentials is outdated, redundant, and unnecessarily burdensome for aspiring mariners. Candidates must repeatedly demonstrate the same competencies, first through years of hands-on assessments and then again on a seven-part written exam—discouraging new entrants and diverting time from more relevant modern training like cybersecurity. 

Additionally, the exam includes obsolete content and lacks a modern review system, leaving graduates underprepared for the realities of today’s maritime industry.