September 17, 2025: The U.S. Coast Guard awarded a blanket purchase agreement Sept. 12 to Stealth Solutions Inc. to modernize the service’s Mariner Credentialing Program (MCP) information technology system and support revitalization of the maritime workforce and industry. The MCP is essential to vetting and denying criminals access to critical maritime infrastructure and supporting the Marine Transportation System (MTS). The National Maritime Center (NMC) processed nearly 75,000 credential requests and 66,000 medical certificate applications in 2024. These actions underscore the Coast Guard’s unwavering commitment to facilitating commerce through operations to control, secure, and defend ports, waterways, and shipping in the physical and cyber domains, and to restore U.S. maritime dominance. The blanket purchase agreement, with a total potential value of $49.6 million and a five-year period of performance, will include comprehensive efforts to update and streamline the merchant mariner credentialing process and other mariner credentialing requirements. Concurrent with the award, the Coast Guard issued a $3.8 million order for development of the first release of NAVITA™, a modernized system for issuing merchant mariner credentials and medical certificates to U.S. merchant mariners. This new system will replace the current labor-intensive manual process with a modern, user-friendly automated system, making the application process faster and more efficient. Mariners will benefit from on-line applications, mariner profiles, and self-service features supporting the timely issuance of mariner credentials. "The Navita™ system represents a transformative leap forward in supporting America’s maritime industry, providing our merchant mariners—who are vital to our nation’s economy and security—with a streamlined process to receive their credentials with speed and focus," said Rear Adm. Wayne Arguin, Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy. By improving our service delivery, we are advancing the effort to Restore American Maritime Dominance and supporting the flow of commerce vital to economic prosperity and strategic mobility through our Marine Transportation System." These efforts are supported in part by the historic investments made through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Modernization of the MCP aligns with Force Design 2028, the Coast Guard’s strategic plan to leverage advanced technology, modernize operations to improve service delivery, and transform into a more agile, capable and responsive force.
February 7, 2025: A Request-For-Quote (RFQ) for the development of the U. S. Coast Guard’s NAVITA was posted, via GSA eBuy, on Monday, February 3, 2025. Potential vendors have until March 3, 2025, to provide a response to the U. S. Coast Guard. All questions regarding the RFQ should be submitted in writing to the Coast Guard Contracting Officer identified in the posting by the February 10, 2025 deadline.
October 9, 2024: The United States Coast Guard announces $11 million in funding towards the development and implementation of NAVITA, the new information technology system to replace the current Merchant Mariner Licensing and Documentation (MMLD) database used to process merchant mariner credentials, medical certificates, and other approvals in the mariner credentialing program.
The funding was received in the 2024 Department of Homeland Security Appropriation Act. This initial funding will allow for the baseline development of a data-driven, business-intelligent, mariner credentialing system eliminating the dependence on antiquated support systems and processes. The system will be web-based allowing for greater access to mariner information and application processes. It is anticipated NAVITA, once fully developed, will replace the current paper-based processes, and improve maritime industry access to the credentialing program.