License renewal documents

[Panga Man]

Heard through the grapevine that when you go up for renewal the next time the uscg will be issuing our licenses in the form of a card similar to a drivers license. Any truth to this??Sure would be better than hauling around a piece of paper!!

 

[Blue Sparkle]

I have not heard anything about a card, but I can tell you that as of 2009 the MMD I received was just like a passport, but with an orange cover instead of a blue one. Same type of pages inside, photograph on the first page, etc. as a passport.

When I had a raise in grade (although it was not a renewal), I was sent full page "stickers" to put on some of the additional pages (similar to a stick-on visa in a passport).

 

[Panga Man]

Maybe that's what there taking about... Even that is an improvement.

 

[nolatom]

What you mean, "license"?? It's a "credential" now.....

 

[Tug]

Maybe that's what there taking about... Even that is an improvement.

I actually find the credential to me much more cumbersome and annoying than the paper license and MMD.

I liked the MMD because I could keep in in my wallet along with the TWIC. It made things easier going in and out of ports and the various dock in them to get to my boat. Now I have to dig around in my bad to find the MMC and keep that in my pocket, thus making it easier to loose. As far as the paper license, I just kept it in a small binder along with my GMDSS radio license and other certificates and papers I need to carry for work. Not to mention, it's hard to post the MMC's in the wheelhouse/bridge if you need them every time you want to get off the boat or ship.

ok, rant over...

 

[Tortuga James]

There is a plastic holder in the back of the credentials book that holds your TWIC card. I recently did an upgrade and got the "passport" type book at that time.

 

[Blue Sparkle]

There is a plastic holder in the back of the credentials book that holds your TWIC card.

There is? Ha, I was just thinking something that would be a nice feature, since it's good to carry them together. Now I'm going to have to go look at mine!

Edited to add: Yep, there it is, inside the back cover. Funny I never noticed it - learn something new every day (OTOH, I keep my TWIC in a metal shield because of the RFID chip, so it's a bit thicker than the bare card would be.)