The U.S. Coast Guard is offering eligible merchant mariners a temporary 120-day authorization to continue sailing on expired national endorsements while the National Maritime Center processes delayed renewal applications. The targeted measure applies to certain credentials that expired between January 1 and July 31, 2026, where renewal applications were submitted before expiry but remain incomplete because additional information or testing is required. The relief does not apply to STCW endorsements or medical certificates and comes as broader temporary credential extensions expire August 31. The measure follows a major processing backlog stemming from the 2026 federal funding lapse, which resulted in more than 19,000 accumulated applications, although estimated processing times have since improved significantly.
