GETTING STARTED

The Coast Guard no longer requires a "letter of intent" from a prospective employer before issuing a merchant mariner's document or "Z-Card"

Applicants for Z-Card should apply at the REC nearest you and must have;

•  A birth certificate, baptismal certificate, or other acceptable evidence of citizenship, a social security card, and two unmounted, dull-finished photographs of passport type (2 x 1-1/2 inches) taken within one year and showing the full face at least 1 inch in height with head uncovered
•  Evidence of a drug test and will have to pay the application and issuance fees.
•  Aliens must have evidence of nationality and acceptable evidence from the U.S. Immigration and naturalization Service that they have been lawfully admitted to the United States.

Contact the REC to find out what you must provide for other licenses and documents.

US Coast Guard Regional Exam Centers (REC)

Anchorage (907) 271-6736	Alameda (510) 437-3092/3093	Baltimore (410) 962-5132
Boston (617) 223-3040	Charleston (803) 724-7693	Honolulu (808) 522-8264
Houston (713) 948-3350	Juneau (907) 463-2458	Long Beach (310) 980-4485
Memphis (901) 544-3297	Miami (305) 536-6548/6874	New Orleans (800) 972-8881
New York (212) 668-7492	Portland (503) 240-9346	San Francisco (510) 437-3092
Seattle (206) 217-6115	St.Louis (314) 539-3091	Toledo (419) 259-6395

You may want to write for a copy of; "Information concerning Employment and Training in the U. S. Merchant Marine" Write to: U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration Office of Maritime Labor and Training 400 Seventh Street, SW. Washington, D.C. 20590   Introduction The U.S. Merchant Marine is a fleet of privately owned, U.S.- registered merchant ships which provide waterborne transportation for cargoes moving in domestic and international commerce. Employment on these ships is the responsibility of the owners and is handled for the most part by maritime labor unions. Part-time or summer employment is not available. The level of seafaring employment is determined by the state of U.S. and world business conditions and improvements in ship technology. United States Maritime Administration The Maritime Administration (MARAD) has Regional Offices in areas of concentrated shipping activity and can provide information on seafaring employment and training. MARAD is also responsible for the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at Kings Point, New York. Addresses and telephone numbers are:

Superintendent U.S. Merchant Marine Academy Kings Point, NY 11204-1699 (516) 773-5000 Maritime Administration Western Region Director 2012 Mission Street,  Suite 2200 San Francisco, Ca 94105 (415) 744-3125 Maritime Administration Central Region Director Canal Place One 365 Canal Street 25th Floor,Suite 2590 New Orleans, LA 70130-1137 (504) 589-6556 Maritime Administration Great Lakes Region Director 2860 South River Road Suite 185 Des Plaines, IL 60018 (708) 298-4535 Maritime Administration South Atlantic Region Director 7737 Hampton Boulevard Building 4D, room 211 Norfolk, VA 23505 (804) 441-6393 Maritime Administration North Atlantic Region Director Federal Building 26 Federal Plaza, Room 3737 New York, NY 10278 (212) 264-1300

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