SHIPS for America Act of 2025

(a) Merchant mariner credentialing modernization. The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall carry out necessary system and process changes to carry out the activities described in paragraphs (1) through (4).

(1) Licensing, certification, and documentation database. Replacement of the merchant mariner licensing, certification, and documentation database such that the database allows for—

(A) the electronic submission of merchant mariner credential applications (including sea service, professional qualifications, course completion data, safety and suitability, and medical records) and course approval requests;

(B) direct submission of sea service information from employers and course completion data from training providers and other stakeholders to provide data securely and directly so that documentation does not need to be submitted later by the merchant mariner; and

(C) the electronic processing and evaluation of information for the issuance of credentials and course approvals, including the capability for the Secretary to complete remote evaluation of the information submitted.

(2) System for data exchange. Implementation of a system that provides for the exchange of data with government agencies and industry stakeholders, which provides the Maritime Administration and other agencies, as appropriate, anonymized and aggregated data showing the following:

(A) The total amount of sea service for individuals with a valid merchant mariner credential.

(B) The number of credentialed mariners by individual rating and the capability to filter data by endorsements.

(C) Demographic information, including age, gender, ethnicity, and address or location.

(D) National Maritime Center processing times.

(E) The number of Coast Guard approved training providers, and, for each such training provider, the number of courses taken by individuals who have, or who are applying for, a merchant mariner credential from that training provider.

(3) Public facing portal. Implementation of a system that includes a public facing portal in the .gov domain instead of the .mil domain to accept merchant mariner applicant information, including credential applications, course completion data, and course approval requests, that complies with the requirements for cybersecurity and privacy information of electronic systems in the .gov domain.

(4) Examination processes. Upgrading the examination processes for merchant mariner examinations, by—

(A) implementing an examination regime that provides for electronic and third party administration of examinations;

(B) reassessing the content of tests through the development of job task analysis for all credentials; and

(C) implementing a robust system to analyze examination data.

(b) Report. The Secretary of the department in which the Coast Guard is operating shall submit—

(1) an annual report to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Armed Services of the Senate, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Committee on Appropriations, and the Committee on Armed Services of the House of Representatives, on the progress of the system and process changes required under subsection (a); and

(2) a final report to those Committees 1 year after full operating capability of the complete system, comprised of all 4 systems required under subsection (a).

(c) Authorization of appropriations. There is authorized to be appropriated out of the Maritime Security Trust Fund, established under section 50301(b) of title 46, United States Code, to carry out this section, $20,000,000 for fiscal year 2026, to remain available until expended.