# 2026-19652: Crew training upgrade for cruise ships with 13+ passengers 2026-19652, Implementation of Training Requirements for Personnel Serving on U.S.-Flagged Passenger Ships That Carry More Than 12 Passengers on International Voyages, is a Federal Register rule from Homeland Security Department, Coast Guard published 2026-09-25, effective 2026-10-26; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-10-02). - Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19652 - As of: 2026-10-02 - Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts. ## Facts - Document number: 2026-19652 - Title: Implementation of Training Requirements for Personnel Serving on U.S.-Flagged Passenger Ships That Carry More Than 12 Passengers on International Voyages - Type: Rule - Agencies: Homeland Security Department; Coast Guard - Citation: 91 FR 60846 - Published: 2026-09-25 - Effective: 2026-10-26 - Comments close: not stated - Significant: no - Touches household money: yes - Regulation identifier numbers: 1625-AC68 - Last updated: 2026-10-02 ## In one line Crew training upgrade for cruise ships with 13+ passengers ## Summary Starting October 26, 2026, crew members on U.S.-flagged passenger ships carrying more than 12 passengers on international trips must complete new emergency and crowd management training. This rule helps keep everyone safer at sea by making sure the crew knows exactly what to do in emergencies. If you work on these ships, get ready for updated training that boosts safety without extra costs. ## Abstract The Coast Guard is amending its merchant mariner training regulations to implement amendments to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, and the Seafarers' Training, Certification and Watchkeeping Code, to require personnel serving on U.S.-flagged passenger ships carrying more than 12 passengers on international voyages to complete passenger ship emergency familiarization. This final rule also expands the applicability of the required crowd management training to include specified ratings on passenger ships. These required trainings would promote the safety of life at sea. ## Effects PRIA read - Mandatory emergency familiarization before assignment: benefit, medium. If you serve on a U.S.-flagged passenger ship that carries more than 12 passengers on an international voyage, you must complete passenger ship emergency familiarization appropriate to your duties before being assigned to shipboard work. This familiarization does not require Coast Guard approval, a… - Crowd management training expands to ratings: cost, medium. Crowd management training is now required not only for masters, officers, and muster-list personnel but also for ratings qualified under Chapters II, III, and VII of the STCW Convention on U.S.-flagged passenger ships carrying more than 12 passengers on international voyages. Crowd management cours… - Safety training for passenger-facing personnel: benefit, medium. Personnel (including officers) who provide direct service to passengers must complete passenger ship safety training that covers communication with passengers, life‑saving appliances, demonstrating use of personal life-saving equipment, embarkation procedures, and attention to disabled persons. Thi… - Crisis management & human behavior training required: benefit, medium. Personnel designated on muster lists with responsibility for passenger safety in emergencies must complete approved or accepted training in crisis management and human behavior in accordance with Coast Guard rules (46 CFR part 10, subpart D). Documentary evidence of completion must be held. - Ro‑ro passenger ship safety and cargo training: benefit, medium. Personnel assigned immediate responsibility for embarking/disembarking passengers, loading/discharging/securing cargo, or closing hull openings on roll-on/roll-off (ro-ro) passenger ships must complete approved or accepted training in passenger safety, cargo safety, and hull integrity. Required top… - Industry compliance cost estimates: cost, medium. The Coast Guard estimates operating companies of U.S.-flagged passenger ships will incur undiscounted average annual costs of about $379,253 (2023 dollars) for passenger ship emergency familiarization, and ratings will incur undiscounted average annual costs of $22,104 (2023 dollars) for crowd mana… ## Related documents - [2026-20087](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20087): Clarification of Certain Mariner Training Requirements, 2026-10-01 - [2026-13137](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13137): Marine Casualty Reporting on the Outer Continental Shelf, 2026-06-30 - [2026-08699](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08699): Shipping Safety Fairways Along the Atlantic Coast, 2026-05-05 - [2026-20632](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20632): Special Local Regulations; San Francisco Bay Navy Fleet Week Parade of Ships and Blue Angels Demonstration, San Francisco, CA, 2026-10-08 - [2026-20527](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20527): Area Maritime Security Advisory Committee (AMSC), Eastern Great Lakes, Western New York; Sub-Committee Vacancy, 2026-10-07 - [2026-20522](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-20522): Safety Zone; Luminsea Miami Shootout and Races, Miami Marine Stadium Harbor, Miami FL, 2026-10-07 ## Sources - [2026-19652 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/09/25/2026-19652/implementation-of-training-requirements-for-personnel-serving-on-us-flagged-passenger-ships-that) - [2026-19652 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-09-25/pdf/2026-19652.pdf) ## Related - [Previous: 2026-19598, Rules of Practice](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19598) - [Next: 2026-19653, Special Local Regulation; Milwaukee River and Menomonee River, Milwaukee, WI](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19653) - [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register) Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19652 (as of 2026-10-02).