An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Maritime Commons banner

    HOME    |    ABOUT    |    MARINE SAFETY LEADERS    |    CONTACT US   


Why the Coast Guard Is Modernizing Mariner Credentialing

June 4, 2026 | By By CAPT Pat Drayer, commanding officer of the National Maritime Center, and Captain Cathleen Mauro, acting chief of the Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing

National Maritime Center website

The U.S. Coast Guard is continuing efforts to modernize the mariner credentialing process through the development of NavitaTM, a new digital platform designed to improve how mariners and maritime stakeholders interact with Coast Guard’s mariner credentialing program. 

For many mariners, today’s credentialing process can involve extensive paperwork, multiple submissions, and lengthy back-and-forth communication. NavitaTM is being developed to simplify that experience and improve how mariners apply for and receive their Merchant Mariner Credentials. 

The effort is centered on one core goal: making it easier for mariners to get the credentials they need so they can get back to work.  

This modernization effort directly supports the Presidential priority for Maritime Dominance. A strong, ready maritime workforce is essential to both our economic prosperity and national security. By reducing credentialing delays, Navita™ will help keep America’s supply chains moving, strengthen the Marine Transportation System , and directly bolster our national defense readiness and economic resilience. 

NavitaTM is part of the Coast Guard’s broader digital transformation effort focused on improving user experience, modernizing  systems that deliver services to the maritime industry, and reducing administrative burdens across maritime services. 

Rather than forcing mariners to navigate complicated systems, the Coast Guard is working to design services around the user experience itself. Early testing and stakeholder engagement are helping shape the platform and identify opportunities to improve accessibility, usability, and overall efficiency. 

Reducing credentialing delays and improving service delivery supports not only mariners, but also the broader Marine Transportation System and the flow of commerce throughout the Nation. In doing so, this modernization effort directly advances the objectives of the President's Executive Order to ensure United States maritime dominance. 

The Coast Guard plans to continue providing updates and additional information as development and testing progress ahead of rollout. More information on NavitaTM and future updates is available on the National Maritime Center website.   

 

 


 

This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official publications, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These publications remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.