New MMC looks Like a Passport, But NO

[Anonymous 121765]

My new Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC) looks like a passport but cannot be used as one.

Just another bureaucratic little minded document. One would think by combining the MMC with a passport, would be a better way to go. But NO, it always seems that the geniuses in government would rather have us pay separately for both.

Man, between bureaucracy & fees, it never ends. So, now we need to carry both.

Any thoughts?

CR

 

[sd1953]

So now it's not the shark, but the size of your ditch bag that makes you say,
"We're gonna need a bigger boat!!!!"
LOL
We all have to justify our jobs; even bureaucrats! If they make one big awful NSA database to house all our information, they could just plant an RFID chip in us and we'd be good to go. But then the streets would be filled with homeless, jobless former bureaucrats. Oh the horror!! LOL

 

[kloudie1]

Surely, Ron, you MUST have your TWIC as well ! (Transportation Worker Identification Credential)
Was interesting to me that I was a Transportation Worker.. when I really was an engineer working in a big oil refinery.

 

[Anonymous 121765]

K,

I hear ya pal. All long haulers need it for port clearance. Thanks to that puke Busch. Five years ago a TWIC card was mandatory. At least now, you can opt out of a TWIC renewal. Hell, I'm never gonna take my boat into places like the Port of Tampa, so for me, I don't need one. Nor, do I need to lay out more useless money.

There are just too many departments in government & they keep adding more instead of combining them to better efficiency. Note to all voters, especially party affiliated: Tis said that everyone gets exactly what they want in life. Keep this in mind as vote time will be upon us soon.

I owe no allegiance to any party, as this form of government only serves the anointed few. Time to vote non-party candidates in to put a dent in their exclusive club.

CR

 

[Jackdaw]

Well, they serve different purposes. They expire at different times. You can have one revoked without losing the right to use the other one.

They could combine your drivers licence and library card in one. But I would hate to lose the right to drive because I kept books late! ;^)

 

[Brian S]

What you think the left hand and the right hand (of the government) are connected by a brain?

Silly sailor! Plus, you know, if there's a fee to collect…

 

[capta]

I wonder if anybody bothered to change the CFR's regarding posting of your MMD on the bridge when operating a commercial vessel? I can't even think to guess how many thousands (hundreds of thousands?) vessels will need a completely different posting system with these stupid little red books.
At least there's a handy dandy little sleeve for your TWIT card to slip into, in the back. Oh boy.

 

[Anonymous 121765]

Capta,

You're dead on pal.

For years, before the "Wittle Red Books", you needed to carry your 8"x10" PAPER ticket with you. Let's see, hmm, paper....wet environment....a separate case to carry this & a large zip-lock bag to hopefully keep out water. I just never got this. So, I kept my ticket at home in a nice safe frame on the wall along with endorsements (far from a wet environment). I printed a color copy of this & kept it on my boat. I had to show it once at sea on a surprise inspection, but it wasn't a problem.

I've always had a problem in following what I thought was stupid and/or ridiculous rules that made no sense of logic.

The government is very adept at going "backwards into the future". Sorta like Microsoft & Windows 8.............and, the little red book.

CR

 

[rgranger]

So who need this? I looked it up on Wikipedia and it said that it is needed

"...for all crew members of U.S. ships with a Gross Register Tonnage of over 100 and for all vessels required to operate with a licensed Master, regardless of size."

I understand what 100 gross registered tonnage is but the rest is kind of vague. (?)

 

[Anonymous 121765]

RG,

My ticket I did for me. Yea, I've run charters etc. but do not use it as a job. The only thing I can think of is the red book has pages like a passport for stampings. I'll bet as a merchant marine guy in foreign ports, that maybe this book needs to be stamped. However thus far, I have not found any info on this.

CR

 

[rgranger]

So if I had a fantasy of hauling mangoes north in my little sailboat and selling them at the local farmer's market... I could skip this? Or is that what this sort of thing is for?

r

 

[capta]

RG,

My ticket I did for me. Yea, I've run charters etc. but do not use it as a job. The only thing I can think of is the red book has pages like a passport for stampings. I'll bet as a merchant marine guy in foreign ports, that maybe this book needs to be stamped. However thus far, I have not found any info on this.

CR

I believe the pages are for sea service records for professionals.
You would be signed aboard a vessel upon hiring, and signed off when leaving the vessel, a bit like a flying log or diving log, just not for daily use.
I am assuming other ratings, engineer, oiler, wiper, deck hand, tankerman, bosun, etc. also have the same book, which would be filled in by the vessel's master. The master, in turn, would get his filled in by his direct supervisor, ashore.
Way back when I began my seagoing career, I carried an official little hardcover blue book that was used in this way.

 

[Anonymous 121765]

Capta,

What happens if you run out of pares to stamp???

CR

 

[capta]

Capta,

What happens if you run out of pares to stamp???

CR

Perhaps they can add pages like in a passport, but knowing the USCG, I'd guess they'd sell you a new book for $55.00.
It doesn't seem like a official sea service record book, but could be used for it. You sure would have to be on a lot of vessels to fill that book in 5 years. In my old one, it was one line on, and one line off, not a page for each boat.

 

[NotCook]

Well, they serve different purposes. They expire at different times. You can have one revoked without losing the right to use the other one. They could combine your drivers licence and library card in one. But I would hate to lose the right to drive because I kept books late! ;^)

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