Episode 44 - “One Source of Truth: How USCG Credential Reform Changes the Rules for Mariners & Shipowners”
Description
For years, US mariner credentialing relied on fragmented systems, inconsistent records, and limited transparency—leaving mariners, shipowners, and operators exposed to hidden risk.
That is about to change.
In Episode 44 of the ShorelineHudson Maritime Risk Podcast, Captain Thomas Brown is joined by US maritime attorney and former US Coast Guard lawyer Benjamin Robinson (Chalos & Co.) to unpack the Department of Homeland Security Inspector General’s findings into Coast Guard credentialing failures—and the sweeping reforms now underway.
We explore:
- Why thousands of drug, alcohol, and misconduct cases were never properly tracked
- How multiple Coast Guard databases failed to speak to each other
- What the new MEAM digital enforcement system means in practice
- Why mariners will now have direct online access to their own case files
- And how increased transparency will impact Port State Control, crew vetting, detentions, and legal exposure
This episode is essential listening for anyone operating vessels into US waters, or responsible for ensuring their crews are compliant, qualified, and defensible when the Coast Guard comes aboard.
United States
