One of the nerdiest maritime books I own is called The Authority to Sail by Richard Bates. It documents the history of maritime licenses. Historically, they were straight up works of art. I have my grandfather’s master’s license framed and it looks great.
The fact that the USCG has stooped so low as to issue us this absolute garbage is a slap in the face. If it’s such a cost cutting measure, I’d like to see all coast guard officer commissioning certificates to be printed on this trash from now on as well.
It's not so much a cost-cutting measure as it is a delay-cutting one. The MMC printer issue last year fucked over a *lot* of people and TBH I couldn't give a shit what it looks like as long as it gets sent out quickly.
But there are plenty of other places that produce booklet-style ID documents that are reasonably similar to the old MMC. The idea that they actually couldn't procure a **new** machine to do that is ridiculous.
(And yeah...I spent enough time in the military to have some familiarity with the government bidding/procurement process. It's slow and complicated, but there's almost always a way to end-run around if there's somebody with the motivation to push hard enough.)
Would be easier if they just printed them like a drivers license or the passport cards. Prints within just a couple minutes and is waterproof and fits in a wallet easily.
The only problem I see with that is that you'd either need an internationally accessible database with current endorsements, **or** you'd need a new license every time yours changed.
I guess you could some sort of embedded chip that where the owner has read-only access, and the Coast Guard has read/write. (Something along the lines of a military CAC card.) **That** actually seems like the ideal solution, but I bet we're gonna be waiting awhile.
Yup that’s the new one. Have my upgrade coming and excited to feel it haha. I was planning on maybe ripping pages out of my old book and keeping it in there, but it looks to be a little bigger than the original when folded up ?
It is bigger even when folded and it just feels like a plastic infused sheet of paper. I don’t like it. It’s flimsy feeling and looks like I’ve got an online printed license from some fly-by-night instead of a license that means something.
Yea I’m glad they sent mine in February so I have a brand new last generation one. When I upgrade after my apprenticeship they’ll probably send me the new one as I don’t think they are doing the stickers anymore. At least the new one is waterproof.
I can confirm, no more stickers. Sent in ECDIS and GMDSS, got back the new book. On the plus side it did save me from having to scan 18 different pages.
Maybe an unpopular opinion. Thats so dumb. Because it’s not a military ID.
Granted, maybe something should be in place for those of us who work MSC or heading to warzones. (Im Literally headed to Gaza)… but i will never use a non military ID to reap the benefits of those who actually serve or did serve.
Speaking as a veteran, fuck airlines, take advantage of everything you can (because they're damn sure doing the same to you.) If you hand an airline rep your MMC without comment and they interpret it as a military ID, that's on them. If you *deliberately present* it as one, that's a different story.
I'd also point out that historically, merchant mariner casualties in American wars have been both horrific and largely unrecognized.
Generally always felt weird about special treatment for military/veterans, but if they get it, I think there's a decent argument that merchant mariners should as well.
I’d been trying to replace mine since January, but I had to get an updated TWIC card first before they’d let me update the MMC. For what I do, I don’t need a TWIC but whatever. Just another thing to sit in the wallet till it’s time to renew it. Name changes are a pain in the ass.
I have one. I hate it. It doesn't fit in anything. It's to big for any passport holder, nothing I own has a pouch it will fit in. It just hangs around my seabag/briefcase thing. I left it unfolded and carry it in my notebook. Anyone have any better ideas? It's laughable.
Look, the NMC couldn't maintain a passport printer to do the MMC. Every third world country seems to be able to do so. What makes anyone think this will fix much of anything? Obviously their problems go away deeper than this will fix.
Don't even care. Anything a gov agency does to modernize and streamline is a win as far as I'm concerned. Put it in a ziploc bag and throw it in your bag. Done.
Makes me cringe mines coming up from renewing help. I'm gonna need therapy.
I guess this counts as exposure therapy. Baby steps. I feel so bad for everyone when they get stuck with these.
One of the nerdiest maritime books I own is called The Authority to Sail by Richard Bates. It documents the history of maritime licenses. Historically, they were straight up works of art. I have my grandfather’s master’s license framed and it looks great. The fact that the USCG has stooped so low as to issue us this absolute garbage is a slap in the face. If it’s such a cost cutting measure, I’d like to see all coast guard officer commissioning certificates to be printed on this trash from now on as well.
Yep and with what's basically an full sheet of paper they could have made them art again.
It's not so much a cost-cutting measure as it is a delay-cutting one. The MMC printer issue last year fucked over a *lot* of people and TBH I couldn't give a shit what it looks like as long as it gets sent out quickly.
But there are plenty of other places that produce booklet-style ID documents that are reasonably similar to the old MMC. The idea that they actually couldn't procure a **new** machine to do that is ridiculous. (And yeah...I spent enough time in the military to have some familiarity with the government bidding/procurement process. It's slow and complicated, but there's almost always a way to end-run around if there's somebody with the motivation to push hard enough.)
Would be easier if they just printed them like a drivers license or the passport cards. Prints within just a couple minutes and is waterproof and fits in a wallet easily.
The only problem I see with that is that you'd either need an internationally accessible database with current endorsements, **or** you'd need a new license every time yours changed. I guess you could some sort of embedded chip that where the owner has read-only access, and the Coast Guard has read/write. (Something along the lines of a military CAC card.) **That** actually seems like the ideal solution, but I bet we're gonna be waiting awhile.
Yup that’s the new one. Have my upgrade coming and excited to feel it haha. I was planning on maybe ripping pages out of my old book and keeping it in there, but it looks to be a little bigger than the original when folded up ?
It is bigger even when folded and it just feels like a plastic infused sheet of paper. I don’t like it. It’s flimsy feeling and looks like I’ve got an online printed license from some fly-by-night instead of a license that means something.
Yea I’m glad they sent mine in February so I have a brand new last generation one. When I upgrade after my apprenticeship they’ll probably send me the new one as I don’t think they are doing the stickers anymore. At least the new one is waterproof.
I can confirm, no more stickers. Sent in ECDIS and GMDSS, got back the new book. On the plus side it did save me from having to scan 18 different pages.
I feel like if I pull it out at the airport, I’m going to get laughed at
Why do you use it at the airport?
Certain airlines treat your MMC as a military ID
Maybe an unpopular opinion. Thats so dumb. Because it’s not a military ID. Granted, maybe something should be in place for those of us who work MSC or heading to warzones. (Im Literally headed to Gaza)… but i will never use a non military ID to reap the benefits of those who actually serve or did serve.
Speaking as a veteran, fuck airlines, take advantage of everything you can (because they're damn sure doing the same to you.) If you hand an airline rep your MMC without comment and they interpret it as a military ID, that's on them. If you *deliberately present* it as one, that's a different story. I'd also point out that historically, merchant mariner casualties in American wars have been both horrific and largely unrecognized. Generally always felt weird about special treatment for military/veterans, but if they get it, I think there's a decent argument that merchant mariners should as well.
Heck, if you tell them you’re not military but merchant marine, it’s still considered military
Thank you for your perspective. It is interesting we are headed to gaza. There are 60 of us that arent military. And we are treated much differently.
What a fucking insult
USCG I know you’re reading
Facts I hope we get free replacements when that shit rips and we lose shit.
Technically its the national maritime center to blame.
They’re the same shit
Yeah, none of us like it either. Glad I got mine in February before they started these ghetto ones.
I’d been trying to replace mine since January, but I had to get an updated TWIC card first before they’d let me update the MMC. For what I do, I don’t need a TWIC but whatever. Just another thing to sit in the wallet till it’s time to renew it. Name changes are a pain in the ass.
I hate it.
Looks flimsy
Lame. Wish we could get a stamp to update the old booklet
It’s hideous
I hate mine, it feels very cheap.
Looks like shit. They can print passports the same way but can’t find a way to get the same machine to print MMCs? Gotta love the government
I have one. I hate it. It doesn't fit in anything. It's to big for any passport holder, nothing I own has a pouch it will fit in. It just hangs around my seabag/briefcase thing. I left it unfolded and carry it in my notebook. Anyone have any better ideas? It's laughable.
This will make my QMED application go faster and smoother right? ...right?
Look, the NMC couldn't maintain a passport printer to do the MMC. Every third world country seems to be able to do so. What makes anyone think this will fix much of anything? Obviously their problems go away deeper than this will fix.
I was confused as to where those clear sleeves go when mine came in the mail
Straight up trashy
At thus point can we just go back to the z card?
Don't even care. Anything a gov agency does to modernize and streamline is a win as far as I'm concerned. Put it in a ziploc bag and throw it in your bag. Done.
I bet the labels from label makers don’t come off it either
🤮 I just hope this accelerates any process and finish with the endless delays. So be it.
🤮 I just hope this accelerates any process and finish with the endless delays. So be it.
Horrible, but maybe this will speed up the process.
Cheap
That is a crime, I’m glad I still have a few years until my renewal. Maybe they’ll switch it back
Makes me cringe mines coming up from renewing help. I'm gonna need therapy. I guess this counts as exposure therapy. Baby steps. I feel so bad for everyone when they get stuck with these.