[Marmot]

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

The MMD is your ticket and you MUST be a US citizen. Green card won't do.

The misinformation above is why you MUST go to the source for which I provided a link. Please be very careful basing your career decisions on things you read here or other similar sites.

The holder of a "green card" may obtain a Merchant Mariner's Document or MMD.

A MMD is not a "ticket" or license. It is simply a mariner's identification and is required for employment on a US flag vessel of more than 100 GRT.

The MMD (MMC these days) may be endorsed for qualified ratings or entry level ratings in the deck, engine, or stewards departments.

[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by Marmot

The misinformation above is why you MUST go to the source for which I provided a link. Please be very careful basing your career decisions on things you read here or other similar sites.

The holder of a "green card" may obtain a Merchant Mariner's Document or MMD.

A MMD is not a "ticket" or license. It is simply a mariner's identification and is required for employment on a US flag vessel of more than 100 GRT.

The MMD (MMC these days) may be endorsed for qualified ratings or entry level ratings in the deck, engine, or stewards departments.

Not enough sleep last night. You are, of course, absolutely correct on that. My appologies although I do have some question. Where a license used to be issued that is now contained in the MMC. Would that not in fact make the MMC the "ticket"?

[Marmot]

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

Where a license used to be issued that is now contained in the MMC. Would that not in fact make the MMC the "ticket"?

http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/Whats_new_to...e_Mar16_09.pdf

Call it whatever you like. Ticket is the colloquial term for a license. It is also commonly used by unlicensed mariners holding a qualifying rating such as AB, as in "I have an AB ticket" or even "I have a QMED license" when in fact they have an endorsement.

If the mariner does not hold a license or STCW, the MMC is just a replacement for the old card. If he or she does, then those certifications are listed along with the limitations. There is nothing new in MMC, it is just a single document that is now similar to what the rest of the world's maritime authorities have issued for ages.

[Henning]

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

The MMD is your ticket and you MUST be a US citizen. Green card won't do. Not totally sure on the TWIC, but you can pick up that info through a Google search.

No sir, your MMD is not your "ticket". Your MMD is your Merchant Mariners Document issued at the USCG-REC, aka your Z-Card. It lists your qualifications on a ship from entry level, OS (ordinary seaman)-Deck, FH (food handler)-Stewards and Wiper-Engineering and goes up to the highest unlicensed ratings for each department. My MMD lists me as AB Unlimited(although I hold a 3000GT Ocean Master "ticket" as well)-FH-Wiper. Citizenship is not required for an MMD, but a Green Card is. If he has documented at least 120 days of seatime on vessels over 100tons he can ask to sit an AB test. Depending on times, tonnages and STCW courses completed, there are various levels of AB he will be issued. OS requires no test, just a current DOT drug screen and I believe $90. Not sure if STCW-95 basic is a prereq now or not, I don't think it is.

TWIC is your Transport Workers Identification Credential which requires a security check done by the TSA (Transport Safety Administration). When you apply they take your biometric data and issue you a chip card with your pic and prints and info that can be scanned to verify your identity. I think they're charging $125 for them now. I slid in under the deadline when they were doing them for free. One benie to having the TWIC is that even when I had a "Secondary Inspection" flag on an airline boarding pass, using the TWIC card as my ID got me through without getting the full exam.

[Henning]

Originally Posted by Marmot

None without a green card. Certainly none that require a merchant mariner's document because that ain't gonna happen without a green card. Citizenship is required for an engineer officer license and a yacht license has no equivalency in the US license scheme. There are no commercial maritime jobs available to a non-resident alien.



Again, without a green card and at least an MMD and TWIC there is no room in the union inn.



?? That is certainly comparing apples to watermelons ... MMP is a licensed deck officer's union and SIU is an unlicensed union for deck, engine, and steward's department rates. And it is far down the list of "best" unions for unlicensed sailors, it's just the biggest and will let anyone in so they can collect government training subsidies. There is no way to compare them any more than you can compare a nurse's union to the AMA. And without a green card and a MMD even SIU is not an option.

He said he's getting a Green Gard, and I sailed for Crowley on blue water tugs as an officer through SIU, I've been with SIU, IBU, MM&P and Operators 3 all as a licensed deck officer (O-3 also as a crane operator).

[NYCAP123]

Thanks guys. Government and bureaucratic regs and legalese boggle this little brain, especially what doesn't apply to my situation. I've always held a license (no z-card) which is now combined into the MMC. Those have always been referred to as my ticket. Never thought about it from the other end. Marmot, you've got a good mind for that stuff. Thanks

[Marmot]

Originally Posted by Henning

He said he's getting a Green Gard.

The guy who sold me a lottery ticket said I was going to win. Besides, all the green cards in the world won't get him a USCG engineer license, even a lower-level limited license.

"... and I sailed for Crowley on blue water tugs as an officer through SIU, I've been with SIU, IBU, MM&P and Operators 3 ... all as a licensed deck officer."

I see that SIU and MM&P both have inland and Great Lakes divisions for lower-level limited license holders, I was not aware of that. You probably didn't get much satisfaction from MM&P because the union is predominately for and on behalf of unlimited license holders. The limited group is under the radar. All of that is irrelevant in this case anyway as the guy says he holds a NZ Class 3 which is an engineering OOW certificate for unlimited vessels.

His is an operational level certificate which is not valid for service at management level (chief engineer or US 1st A/E or international 2nd Eng.) and unless he uses it to work on a yacht by obtaining a flag state yacht limited endoresment, it is just a piece of paper in the US.

"My MMD lists me as AB Unlimited(although I hold a 3000GT Ocean Master "ticket" as well)-FH-Wiper."

That is because the document only lists entry level ratings such as OS for the deckies and wiper for the black gang, and food handler (FH) for the stewards department. Once you get a higher unlicensed rating, or certain other qualifications, they are added along with any physical limitations. The licence is not shown because a license is a license and an MMD is an MMD.

I have a 100 ton master as well as an unlimited chief engineer endorsed for steam/motor/gas turbine but my MMD says OS, any unlicensed rating in engine department, FH, first aid provider, lifeboatman, tank-PIC(DL) and includes a vison waiver since I wear glasses. Those ratings/quals are there because if I were to allow my license to lapse I could still sail unlicensed with those qualifications. Certifications required by STCW, such as First aid provider, tankerman PIC and lifeboatman are also listed with limitations (if any) along with the license on the STCW certificate.

[Marmot]

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

Marmot, you've got a good mind for that stuff.

Thanks but it is just the residue of the years of crawling through the maze of rules, reguations, and horse manure that stand between a sailor and a piece of paper.

[NYCAP123]

Originally Posted by Marmot

Thanks but it is just the residue of the years of crawling through the maze of rules, reguations, and horse manure that stand between a sailor and a piece of paper.

Well put.

[jdcavo]

Originally Posted by mp09

You can obtain them on a Greencard?

MMD - is that your ticket as such?

Non-U.S. citizens admitted for permanent residence (green card) can get unlicensed rating endorsement (what was formerly put on the MMD or Z-Card). They can also get a deck officer endorsement (license) as Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV or 6-pack). All other deck licenses require U.S. citizenship.

All require a TWIC.

James D. Cavo
U.S. Coast Guard
Mariner Credentialing Program
Policy Division (CG-5434)
James.D.Cavo@uscg.mil

[NYCAP123]

Looks like we now have (at least) 2 reg. experts on YF. This is good. Welcome to YF jdcavo

[Marmot]

Thank you John, nice to see you here.

Marmot ... MEBA C/E ex CMES