What is a z-card, and how do you apply?

The z-card is a type of credential that the U.S. Coast Guard issues to qualified crew members of U.S. ships weighing more than 100 gross tons. Z-cards are similar to driver’s licenses; they contain the mariner’s basic information such as date of birth, the location where the card was issued, the mariner's nationality, and the shipboard duties and roles for which he or she is qualified.

Changes in Z-Card Requirements

Z-cards were first adopted in the late 1970s as a part of the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification, and Watchkeeping for Seafarers. It was a means to ensure that sailors met the minimum training and certification standards prescribed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

Z-cards were originally nicknamed as such because, at one point, all mariners’ ID numbers began with the letter “Z.” The card is a Merchant Mariner's Document (MMD). The card serves as proof of identify for sailors and for use as a passport when entering foreign countries.

MMC Replacing the Z-Card

The USCG is phasing out z-cards and replacing them with Merchant Mariner Credentials (MMCs). When mariners apply for and receive their MMC, their new MMC documentation will contain their MMD information. They are still good for now, but once they expire, mariners will acquire an MMC, which resembles a passport.

Before applying for your credentials, ensure that you meet the professional requirements laid out by the USCG. You can visit the National Maritime Center’s (NMC) website to determine exactly what the requirements are, which depend upon the type of endorsement for which you’re applying.

Once that’s established, you can follow the basic application process:

• #1 – Fill out the Application for License as an Officer, Staff Officer or Operator and for Merchant Mariner's Document (CG-719B);
• #2 – Obtain documentation for your drug screening and physical fitness exams.
• #3 – Take your oath.
• #4 – Obtain a copy of your TWIC card.
• #5 – Pay the applicable fees.
• #6 – Mail all the documentation to a Regional Exam Center (which will review and forward it to the NMC).
• #7 – Await your MMC in the mail, which contain your MMD information.

You can avoid delays by carefully filling out the paperwork and ensuring you send in all the required documents with your initial application. You can use the NMC’s Merchant Mariner Credential Application Acceptance Checklist, found online, to double-check your application package before you mail it in. You also can visit the NMC’s website for helpful resources.

Other Helpful Marine Industry Resources

My Vessel Logs has been supplying the marine industry for over 40 years. We offer top-quality products for vessel owners and operators and maintain a blog offering lots of information for mariners across the country. Feel free to download our Logbook Quick Reference Guide or contact us for more information. You can order logbooks online or call us at 888-468-3757.