Merchant Mariner Document of Continuity
If you plan not to renew your license for any reason, you can still be a member of CAPCA if you obtain a Document of Continuity from the Coast Guard, and there’s another important benefit of having a DOC.
The document maintains your eligibility for license renewal. You can’t work under it in a job where a license is required, but you remain on the Coast Guard's active list so that you don't have to start from scratch if you decide to renew your license. The Document of Continuity does not expire.
Applying for a Document of Continuity is easy—and there's no charge. However, you must apply within one year of the date that your current license expires.
To learn more, click on this link to the USCG National Maritime Center and scroll to the middle of the page to this row of menu tabs:
Click on the CONTINUITY tab to see the details of the process.
If you have any questions, e-mail