46 CFR 10.201: General characteristics of the Merchant Mariner Credential
Last reviewed: October 14, 2026
This section describes the Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), which combines the MMD, License, COR and STCW endorsement. MMDs, licenses, STCW endorsements and CORs are no longer issued as separate documents. An MMC authorizes the holder to serve in the capacities the text lists.
What it says
A Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) combines the elements of the Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD), Merchant Mariner's License (License), and Certificate of Registry (COR), as well as the STCW endorsement.
46 CFR 10.201(a)“A Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) is a credential combining the elements of the Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD), Merchant Mariner's License (License), and Certificate of Registry (COR)”
MMDs, licenses, STCW endorsements, and CORs are no longer issued as separate documents.
46 CFR 10.201(a)“MMDs, licenses, STCW endorsements, and CORs are no longer issued as separate documents”
All qualifications formerly entered on those separate documents now appear as endorsements on an MMC.
46 CFR 10.201(a)“all qualifications formerly entered on those separate documents appear in the form of an endorsement(s) on an MMC.”
An MMC authorizes the holder to serve in any capacity endorsed on it, in any lower capacity in the same department, or in any capacity covered by a general endorsement.
46 CFR 10.201(b)“An MMC authorizes the holder to serve in any capacity endorsed thereon, or in any lower capacity in the same department, or in any capacity covered by a general endorsement.”
The Coast Guard may issue an MMC to qualified applicants.
46 CFR 10.201(c)“An MMC may be issued to qualified applicants by the Coast Guard.”
Common questions
What does a Merchant Mariner Credential authorize me to do?
An MMC authorizes the holder to serve in any capacity endorsed on it, in any lower capacity in the same department, or in any capacity covered by a general endorsement.
“An MMC authorizes the holder to serve in any capacity endorsed thereon, or in any lower capacity in the same department, or in any capacity covered by a general endorsement.”
Are MMDs and licenses still issued separately?
No. MMDs, licenses, STCW endorsements, and CORs are no longer issued as separate documents.
“MMDs, licenses, STCW endorsements, and CORs are no longer issued as separate documents”
Who issues the Merchant Mariner Credential?
The Coast Guard may issue an MMC to qualified applicants.
“An MMC may be issued to qualified applicants by the Coast Guard.”
The text of 46 CFR 10.201
Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR
General characteristics of the Merchant Mariner Credential
(a) A Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) is a credential combining the elements of the Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD), Merchant Mariner's License (License), and Certificate of Registry (COR) enumerated in 46 U.S.C. subtitle II part E, as well as the STCW endorsement issued pursuant to the STCW Convention and STCW Code (incorporated by reference, see § 10.103). MMDs, licenses, STCW endorsements, and CORs are no longer issued as separate documents, and all qualifications formerly entered on those separate documents appear in the form of an endorsement(s) on an MMC.
(b) An MMC authorizes the holder to serve in any capacity endorsed thereon, or in any lower capacity in the same department, or in any capacity covered by a general endorsement.
(c) An MMC may be issued to qualified applicants by the Coast Guard.
Sections it refers to
The plain-English explanation on this page was written with AI from the regulation text above and checked automatically before publishing: every quote appears in the text, every number comes from it, and a second model confirmed each statement adds nothing the text doesn't say. Regulation text current as of April 16, 2026. The regulation text governs. RegKnot is not affiliated with the U.S. Coast Guard.