FACACLASSIC

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DHS - 688 - National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee - Statutory (Congress Created)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Committee Name	National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee	Agency Name	Department of Homeland Security
Fiscal Year	2025	Committee Number	688
Original Establishment Date	10/31/1991	Committee Status	Chartered
Actual Termination Date		Committee URL	https://homeport.uscg.mil/missions/federal-advi...
Actual Merged Date		Presidential Appointments*	No
New Committee This FY	No	Max Number of Members*	19
Terminated This FY	No	Designated Fed Officer Position Title*	Chief, Merchant Mariner Credentialing
Merged This FY		Designated Federal Officer Prefix	Mrs.
Current Charter Date	11/2/2022	Designated Federal Officer First Name*	Mayte
Date Of Renewal Charter	11/2/2024	Designated Federal Officer Middle Name
Projected Termination Date	9/30/2029	Designated Federal Officer Last Name*	Medina
Exempt From Renewal*	No	Designated Federal Officer Suffix
Specific Termination Authority		Designated Federal Officer Phone*	(202) 372-1406
Establishment Authority*	Statutory (Congress Created)	Designated Federal Officer Fax*	(202) 372-8382
Specific Establishment Authority*	§ 601 of the Frank LoBiondo Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2018, Pub. L. No. 115-282, 132 Stat. 4192 and is codified in 46 U.S.C. § 15103	Designated Federal Officer Email*	mayte.medina2@uscg.mil
Effective Date Of Authority*	12/18/2014
Exempt From EO 13875 Discretionary Cmte	Not Applicable
Committee Type*	Continuing
Presidential*	No
Committee Function*	Non Scientific Program Advisory Board

RECOMMENDATION/JUSTIFICATIONS

Agency Recommendation*	Continue
Legislation to Terminate Required	Not Applicable
Legislation Status	Not Applicable
How does cmte accomplish its purpose?*	NMERPAC makes recommendations that influence the development of Coast Guard regulations and policies affecting personnel in the US Merchant Marine, including but not limited to: training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness standards. The Committee provides valuable advice to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and Commandant, USCG to assist the U.S. in formulating and presenting its positions to the International Maritime Organization on maritime matters. Specifically, NMERPAC continues work in support of the Coast Guard’s efforts to finalize the incorporation of amendments to the International Convention for Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW). In doing so, the Committee has continued to provide recommendations regarding methodologies for determining mariner competency which are valuable in helping formulate upcoming regulatory projects and guidance documents to support regulations. NMERPAC's predecessor developed examples of model performance standards for in excess of fifteen areas of knowledge and proficiency in the STCW Code giving priorities to those tasks best assessed aboard ship. The Committee continues work on the recognition of military sea service for obtaining national and STCW endorsements on Merchant Mariner Credentials.
How is membership balanced?*	The Committee membership is mandated by statute and consists of not more than nineteen (19) members who are appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. To assure a balanced representation, members are appointed, insofar as practicable, from the following groups and in the following numbers: a. Nine members shall represent mariners and each shall be a United States citizen holding credentials with officer endorsements (licenses) issued under 46 U.S.C. chapter 71 or rating endorsements (documents) issued under 46 U.S.C. chapter 73. And of those nine: (1) Three shall be deck officers who represent merchant marine deck officers and, of those three: (i) two shall be licensed for oceans any gross tons; (ii) one shall be licensed for inland river route with limited or unlimited tonnage; (iii) two shall have a master’s license or a master of towing vessels license; (iv) one shall have significant tanker experience; and (v) to the extent practicable, one shall represent labor and one shall represent management; (2) Three shall be engineering officers who represent merchant marine engineering officers and, of the three: (i) two shall be licensed as chief engineer any horsepower; (ii) one shall be licensed as either a limited chief engineer or a designated duty engineer; and (iii) to the extent practicable, one shall represent labor and one shall represent management; (3) Two shall be unlicensed seamen who represent merchant marine unlicensed seaman and, of the two: (i) one shall be endorsed as able-bodied seamen; and (ii) one shall represent qualified members of the engine department; and (4) One shall be a pilot who represents merchant marine pilots.; b. Six members shall represent marine educators and, of the six: (1) Three shall be marine educators who represent maritime academies and, of the three: (i) Two shall represent State maritime academies and are jointly recommended by such academies; and (ii) One shall represent either the State maritime academies or the United States Merchant Marine Academy; and (2) Three shall be marine educators who represent other maritime training institutions and, of the three, one shall represent the small vessel industry; c. Two members shall represent shipping companies employed in ship operation management; d. Two members shall represent the general public.
How frequent & relevant are cmte mtgs?*	NMERPAC met three times in FY24: twice in-person and once virtually for an update on recommendations. NMERPAC is composed of experts in their particular segment of the maritime industry, and the Committee makes recommendations that influence the development of Coast Guard regulations and policies affecting personnel in the US Merchant Marine, including but not limited to: training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness standards. The Committee provides valuable advice to the Commandant, USCG to assist the U.S. in formulating and presenting its positions to the International Maritime Organization on maritime matters. NMERPAC has significantly facilitated the US Coast Guard's implementation of amendments to the International Convention on the Standards of Training, Certification & Watchkeeping for Seafarers (STCW) with harmonization of ongoing U.S. regulations. This harmonization has required an extensive revision of U.S. credentialing regulations. The US Coast Guard's effectiveness in these activities is greatly improved with direct access to the expertise and advice that is currently represented on this advisory Committee.
Why advice can't be obtained elsewhere?*	This diverse Committee provides focused and well thought-out recommendations to relevant issues. It is very responsive to the US Coast Guard’s need for recommendations on issues within a short period of time. The unique industry perspective provided by this Committee facilitates the US Coast Guard's efforts. This information would otherwise have to be drawn from the broad population involved in merchant vessel personnel matters. There is no other current entity which can provide the level of technical expertise and experience that is afforded by this advisory panel.
Why close or partially close meetings?	All meetings of NMERPAC are open meetings.
Recommendation Remarks	Under 46 U.S.C. § 15109(m), the Committee is authorized to continue until September 30, 2029.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES

Outcome Improvement To Health Or Safety*	Yes	Action Reorganize Priorities*	Yes
Outcome Trust In Government	Yes	Action Reallocate Resources	Yes
Outcome Major Policy Changes	Yes	Action Issued New Regulations	Yes
Outcome Advance In Scientific Research	No	Action Proposed Legislation	No
Outcome Effective Grant Making	No	Action Approved Grants Or Other Payments	No
Outcome Improved Service Delivery	Yes	Action Other	Yes
Outcome Increased Customer Satisfaction	Yes	Action Comment	Develop U.S. positions to be presented at International Maritime Organization meetings.
Outcome Implement Laws/Reg Requirements	Yes	Grants Review*	No
Outcome Other	Yes	Number Of Grants Reviewed	0
Outcome Comment	Develop U.S. positions to be presented at International Maritime Organization meetings.	Number Of Grants Recommended	0
Cost Savings*	Unable to Determine	Dollar Value Of Grants Recommended	$0.00
Cost Savings Comment		Grants Review Comment	NA
Number Of Recommendations*	545	Access Contact Designated Fed. Officer*	Yes
Number Of Recommendations Comment	NMERPAC has made 545 recommendations on 21 tasks and subtasks since its 2020 establishment.	Access Agency Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented*	16.00%	Access Committee Website	Yes
% of Recs Fully Implemented Comment	Many recommendations are expected to be implemented in future rulemaking and policy making projects.	Access GSA FACA Website	Yes
% of Recs Partially Implemented*	3.00%	Access Publications	No
% of Recs Partially Implemented Comment	Only 9% of the recommendations recieved cannot be implemented. The remaining 72% of recommendations will be considered for future projects. While much of NMERPAC's output is used to improve regulatory and policy promulgation, some recommendations are not enforceable or are outside the scope of the regulatory or policy development. What is not used is retained in the event that the information can assist in informing a future regulatory or policy initiative.	Access Other	No
Agency Feedback*	Yes	Access Comment	N/A
Agency Feedback Comment*	We report back to the Committee on the resolution of their recommendations on a bi-annual basis. All recommendations are included in the meeting minutes. The agency response to recommendations will be reported at the next meeting in the Winter of 2024.	Narrative Description*	The National Merchant Marine Personnel Advisory Committee (NMERPAC) makes recommendations to the Commandant of the US Coast Guard which influence the development of Coast Guard regulations and policy guidance affecting personnel in the US Merchant Marine, including but not limited to: training, qualifications, certification, documentation, and fitness standards. The Committee provides valuable advice to the Commandant of the US Coast Guard to assist the U.S. in formulating and presenting its positions to the International Maritime Organization on maritime matters. Specifically, NMERPAC continues work in support of the US Coast Guard’s efforts in implementing international instruments into United States standards, specifically the International Convention for Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978 (STCW), as amended. In doing so, the Committee has provided recommendations regarding methodologies for determining mariner competency which are valuable in helping formulate upcoming regulatory projects and guidance documents.

COSTS

1. Payments to Non-Federal Members*		1. Est Paymnts to Non-Fed Membrs Nxt FY*
2. Payments to Federal Members*		2. Est. Payments to Fed Members Next FY*
3. Payments to Federal Staff*		3. Estimated Payments to Federal Staff*
4. Payments to Consultants*		4. Est. Payments to Consultants Next FY*
5. Travel Reimb. For Non-Federal Membrs*		5. Est Travel Reimb Non-Fed Membr nxtFY*
6. Travel Reimb. For Federal Members*		6. Est Travel Reimb For Fed Members*
7. Travel Reimb. For Federal Staff*		7. Est. Travel Reimb to Fed Staf Nxt FY*
8. Travel Reimb. For Consultants*		8. Est Travel Reimb to Consltnts Nxt FY*
10. Other Costs		10. Est. Other Costs Next FY*
11. Total Costs	$0.00	11. Est. Total Next FY*	$0.00
Date Cost Last Modified	2/12/2025 12:41 PM	Est. Fed Staff Support Next FY*
Federal Staff Support (FTE)*		Est Cost Remarks
Cost Remarks

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