[Federal Register: October 11, 2005 (Volume 70, Number 195)]
[Notices]               
[Page 59078]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr11oc05-66]                         

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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

Coast Guard

[USCG-2005-22541]

 
Merchant Mariner Credentials: Temporary Procedures

AGENCY: Coast Guard, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of establishment of temporary offices.

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SUMMARY: On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina devastated the 
coastlines of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. The Regional 
Examination Center (REC) at New Orleans, which serves 14% of mariners 
nation-wide including approximately 29,000 mariners in those three 
states, was flooded, destroying vital records and equipment, and 
rendering the facility temporarily inoperable. The Coast Guard is 
opening temporary offices in Morgan City, LA and Memphis, TN to provide 
services to mariners that have been affected by the closure of the REC 
in New Orleans.

DATES: This Notice is effective October 11, 2005.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: If you have questions on this notice, 
call Mr. Donald J. Kerlin, Deputy Director, Coast Guard National 
Maritime Center (NMC), (202) 493-1006.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Two temporary offices in Morgan City, LA and 
Memphis, TN have been established to assist the pre-existing RECs that 
have seen increases in activity due to Hurricane Katrina, and 
subsequently Hurricane Rita.
    The temporary office in Morgan City, LA is now open, and will 
accept completed applications and offer fingerprinting services, 
identity verification, and administration of oaths for mariners. The 
Morgan City office is located at 800 David Dr., Morgan City, LA, 70380. 
It is open weekdays from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Applicants may reach the 
office by phone at (985) 380-5150 or by fax at (985) 380-5379.
    A temporary full-service REC in Memphis, TN is also now open, and 
is staffed by employees from the New Orleans REC. This office, which is 
located adjacent to the pre-existing REC in Memphis, is dedicated to 
restoring services to mariners from the Gulf Coast who were affected by 
Katrina. The temporary Memphis office is located at 200 Jefferson, 
Ave., Suite 1301, Memphis, TN, 38103. It is open weekdays from 8 a.m. 
to 4 p.m. and closed from noon to 1 (noon to 2 on Wednesday). The 
office is closed the last Wednesday of each month. Applicants may reach 
the office by phone at (901) 544-3941 (select ``1'' for New Orleans 
REC), or by fax at (901) 544-3172.
    The Morgan City and Memphis temporary offices will both be closed 
on Federal holidays.
    When the recovery and restoration efforts along the Gulf Coast 
permit, the Coast Guard will re-establish full REC services in the New 
Orleans area.
    In a previous notice published October 4, 2005 in the Federal 
Register, the Coast Guard waived the fee for mariners whose homes of 
record are in the states of Louisiana, Mississippi or Alabama, as 
confirmed by the Coast Guard's Merchant Mariner Licensing and 
Documentation System (MMLD), who are applying for duplicate 
credentials. Please see the notice published in the Federal Register in 
Volume 70 page 57885 for more details on the waiver program. You may 
also call Mr. Kerlin for assistance at the number provided in FOR 
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT.

    Authority: 46 U.S.C. 2103, 2110, 7101, 7302, 7501, 7502, and 
Department of Homeland Security Delegation No. 0170.1.

    Dated: October 5, 2005.
T.H. Gilmour,
Rear Admiral, U.S. Coast Guard, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety, 
Security and Environmental Protection.
[FR Doc. 05-20349 Filed 10-7-05; 8:45 am]

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