The U.S. Coast Guard has introduced a redesigned online credentialing system as the maritime industry continues adapting to the permanent closure of its long-standing HOMEPORT platform, which was taken offline last year after serving mariners for two decades.
The Application Submission and Additional Information Portal, known as ASAP, now serves as the primary gateway for mariners seeking Merchant Mariner Credentials and Medical Certificates. The system allows users to submit applications, upload documents, and track their credential status through a single interface managed by the Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center.
“The redesigned portal features simpler navigation, clearer instructions and improved document uploads,” according to the Coast Guard announcement. The changes aim to streamline the credentialing process and enhance document tracking capabilities that were disrupted following HOMEPORT’s unexpected shutdown.
HOMEPORT, which had been operational since 2005, was permanently taken offline on April 12, 2025, following an unplanned period of restricted access that began on March 4, 2025. The platform’s sudden unavailability caused significant operational disruptions across the maritime sector, preventing employers from verifying crew credentials and reportedly resulting in job losses for mariners unable to validate their qualifications through previously available online tools.
The closure affected access to critical maritime security resources, including real-time updates on Maritime Security levels, port security information, Marine Safety Information Bulletins, and Area Maritime Security Plans.
In conjunction with the ASAP launch, the Coast Guard Navigation Center has also unveiled a newly redesigned homepage at https://navcen.uscg.gov/, providing faster access to maritime safety information and operational services. The updated site now offers centralized access to Marine Safety Information Bulletins and improved visibility of the U.S. Search and Rescue Satellite-Aided Tracking Program.
Mariners are encouraged to review a step-by-step tutorial before submitting applications through the new ASAP system.
The timing of these system upgrades comes as the Trump Administration seeks to strengthen the nation’s maritime workforce as part of his “Restoring America’s Maritime Dominance” executive order.
FILE PHOTO: a Port State Control inspection in Nine Mile Anchorage on the lower Mississippi River. U.S. Coast Guard Photo
This article was published courtesy of gCaptain – Maritime News.
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