46 CFR 10.229: Replacement of lost Merchant Mariner Credentials

Last reviewed: October 14, 2026

This section explains how a mariner can get a duplicate credential and medical certificate after a loss. The mariner applies with an affidavit describing the loss, and no examination is required. The fee depends on how the credential was lost, and an alien must also comply with § 10.221 of this part.

Applies toMariners who have lost a credential and apply for a duplicate credential and medical certificate, including aliens, who must comply with § 10.221 of this part.

What it says

  1. On request and without examination, a mariner may be issued a duplicate credential and medical certificate after submitting an application with an affidavit describing the circumstances of the loss.

    46 CFR 10.229(a)“Upon request and without examination, a mariner may be issued a duplicate credential and medical certificate after submitting an application with an affidavit describing the circumstances of the loss.”

  2. The Coast Guard will issue the duplicate credential, MMC and/or medical certificate only after confirming the validity of the mariner's credentials and the validity of the mariner's TWIC.

    46 CFR 10.229(a)“The Coast Guard will only issue the duplicate credential, MMC and/or medical certificate, after confirming the validity of the mariner's credentials and the validity of the mariner's TWIC.”

  3. The duplicate credential will have the same authority, wording, and expiration date as the lost credential.

    46 CFR 10.229(b)“The duplicate credential will have the same authority, wording, and expiration date as the lost credential.”

  4. If a person loses a credential by shipwreck or other casualty, the duplicate credential will be issued free of charge.

    46 CFR 10.229(c)“If a person loses a credential by shipwreck or other casualty, a duplicate credential will be issued free of charge.”

  5. The term "other casualty" includes any damage to a ship caused by collision, explosion, tornado, wreck, flooding, beaching, grounding, or fire, or personal loss associated with a federally declared natural disaster.

    46 CFR 10.229(c)“The term “other casualty” includes any damage to a ship caused by collision, explosion, tornado, wreck, flooding, beaching, grounding, or fire; or personal loss associated with a federally declared natural disaster.”

  6. If a person loses a credential by means other than those noted in paragraph (c) of this section and applies for a duplicate, the person must pay the appropriate fee set out in § 10.219 of this part.

    46 CFR 10.229(d)“the appropriate fee set out in § 10.219 of this part must be paid.”

  7. The Coast Guard will not accept an application from an alien for a duplicate credential unless the alien complies with the requirements of § 10.221 of this part.

    46 CFR 10.229(e)“No application from an alien for a duplicate credential will be accepted unless the alien complies with the requirements of § 10.221 of this part.”

  8. Applications for duplicate credentials are not subject to a criminal record review.

    46 CFR 10.229(f)“Applications for duplicate credentials will not be subject to a criminal record review.”

Common questions

Do I have to take an exam to replace a lost mariner credential?

No. A mariner may be issued a duplicate credential and medical certificate without examination after submitting an application with an affidavit describing the loss.

“Upon request and without examination, a mariner may be issued a duplicate credential and medical certificate after submitting an application with an affidavit describing the circumstances of the loss.”

Is a replacement mariner credential free?

It is free if the credential was lost by shipwreck or other casualty. If it was lost by other means, the appropriate fee set out in § 10.219 of this part must be paid.

“If a person loses a credential by shipwreck or other casualty, a duplicate credential will be issued free of charge.”

Can an alien apply for a duplicate mariner credential?

The Coast Guard will accept an alien's application for a duplicate credential only if the alien complies with the requirements of § 10.221 of this part.

“No application from an alien for a duplicate credential will be accepted unless the alien complies with the requirements of § 10.221 of this part.”

Does a duplicate credential application require a criminal record review?

No. Applications for duplicate credentials are not subject to a criminal record review.

“Applications for duplicate credentials will not be subject to a criminal record review.”

The text of 46 CFR 10.229

Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR), current as of April 16, 2026 · Read it on eCFR

Replacement of lost Merchant Mariner Credentials

(a) Upon request and without examination, a mariner may be issued a duplicate credential and medical certificate after submitting an application with an affidavit describing the circumstances of the loss. The Coast Guard will only issue the duplicate credential, MMC and/or medical certificate, after confirming the validity of the mariner's credentials and the validity of the mariner's TWIC.

(b) The duplicate credential will have the same authority, wording, and expiration date as the lost credential.

(c) If a person loses a credential by shipwreck or other casualty, a duplicate credential will be issued free of charge. The term “other casualty” includes any damage to a ship caused by collision, explosion, tornado, wreck, flooding, beaching, grounding, or fire; or personal loss associated with a federally declared natural disaster.

(d) If a person loses a credential by means other than those noted in paragraph (c) of this section and applies for a duplicate, the appropriate fee set out in § 10.219 of this part must be paid.

(e) No application from an alien for a duplicate credential will be accepted unless the alien complies with the requirements of § 10.221 of this part.

(f) Applications for duplicate credentials will not be subject to a criminal record review.

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.