Feb. 5, 2007 — Mariners who need help with fingerprinting and license applications can get it this week by making an appointment with representatives of the U.S. Coast Guard.
A representative of the Regional Exam Center (REC) will visit St. Thomas Wednesday and Thursday to help mariners with fingerprinting and application packages for merchant mariner's documents, licenses and certificates of registry, according to a Coast Guard news release.
Mariners requesting fingerprinting services must provide a complete application and two forms of valid identification, at least one of which has a photograph, the release said. Common types of identification include a driver's license issued by a U.S. state or territory, a passport or an original birth certificate. The REC representative won't accept expired documents as a valid means of identification, the release said.
Meetings are by appointment only, Wednesday and Thursday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. each day. To schedule an appointment, call the U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment on St. Thomas at (340) 776-3497.
This is the fourth visit by an REC representative to St. Thomas since the implementation of new security requirements for mariners who apply for original, renewal, raise-of-grade licenses and certificates of registry, the release said. The interim rule became effective on Jan. 13, 2006, and is applicable for applications received by the Coast Guard on or after that date. Under the new requirements, all applicants for licenses and certificates of registry must have their identity checked and their fingerprints taken for a criminal record review by the Coast Guard.
