Beware people who say they have a Captains License but do not.

[a64pilot]

TSA are idiots, simply put. I’ve had them tell me that my Military ID wasn’t “official”

[john61ct]

Yes, true for many LEO and bureaucrats.

Usually does you little good - in any country - to prove them wrong. . .

[Captain Graham]

Originally Posted by Snore

FYI I ran a boat to Key West and was flying home. Got to the TSA checkpoint, first ID I grabbed was my MMC- they refused to accept it as ID. They demanded a DL or passport as ID. When I said this was a document issued by the Federal Gov’t, she asked her supervisor who repeated the same thing

Just to be clear the TSA has a list of IDs that are acceptable.
If you show them something not on the list too bad.

But in your case the MMC is on the list, so the TSA people were not even following their own rules.

Here is the list
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-...identification
Driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
U.S. passport
U.S. passport card
DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
Permanent resident card
Border crossing card
DHS-designated enhanced driver's license
Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
HSPD-12 PIV card
Foreign government-issued passport
Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
Transportation worker identification credential
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

[MarathonJohn]

I've been reading all these replies and the information within. So, you guys are telling me NOW that I need more than my fancy white hat with the dark visor and the crossed anchors on the front in order to skipper a boat? Every time I check into this site me learns something new. Tanks bouys...

[Captain Graham]

For all of the people on this forum who say they have a current Captains Licence but do not have the MMC I would be willing to bet you allowed your license to expire.

You have to renew your license every 5 years.

The first step is to check that your license is valid.
Go to https://homeport.uscg.mil/missions/m...er-certificate

Enter in your MMC Reference Number and your last name.

If you are not in the system you do not have a license.

If you are in the system but do not have the MMC, contact the USCG and do what is required to get one.

PS The USGC started issuing the MMC in 2009, 10 years ago.
So when you renewed your license (every 5 years) they would have sent you the MMC.

[Captain Graham]

Originally Posted by MarathonJohn

I've been reading all these replies and the information within. So, you guys are telling me NOW that I need more than my fancy white hat with the dark visor and the crossed anchors on the front in order to skipper a boat? Every time I check into this site me learns something new. Tanks bouys...

Just to be clear, we are talking about becoming a USCG Licensed Professional Master (Captain), that will allow you to charge people for your services.

Think of it like your car.
If you want to drive a car you get a drivers license simple and easy to do.
If you want to become a professional truck driver you have do a lot more and get a difference license.

[Capt Phil]

When I immigrated from Canada back in the early ‘70’s, I applied to the USCG for the equivalent license that I held in Canada.
The license I held back home after many years at sea commercially and going to vocational school for 6 monthes to obtain, was my Mates Ticket for Coastal and Inland Waters. They replied back that I would have to write an exam and have my employers from Canada document my sea time. I accomplished both these requirements and the USCG sent me my Masters Certification which was good enough for insurance companies to allow me to open a charter delivery business out of San Diego which I ran for about 20 years. The insurers for vessels, power and sail, that brokers and owners had cover their boats, were only interested in getting a copy of the USCG certificate before permitting them to engage me for deliveries. Most deliveries were within the West Coast of the US or from the US to Mexico or in the other direction, I never had a problem, or an accident, at sea.
Not sure these facts are pertinent to the thread subject but back in those days it was fairly easy to obtain certificates from the USCG who I understand still issue Masters Certification.
In those days there was no such thing as an MMC!
Now, long retired, I don’t keep up the certification which requires a periodic updating and retesting, I understand. I would never pass the physical anyway...
Phil

[Snore]

Originally Posted by Captain Graham

Just to be clear the TSA has a list of IDs that are acceptable.
If you show them something not on the list too bad.

But in your case the MMC is on the list, so the TSA people were not even following their own rules.

Here is the list
https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-...identification
Driver's licenses or other state photo identity cards issued by Department of Motor Vehicles (or equivalent)
U.S. passport
U.S. passport card
DHS trusted traveler cards (Global Entry, NEXUS, SENTRI, FAST)
U.S. Department of Defense ID, including IDs issued to dependents
Permanent resident card
Border crossing card
DHS-designated enhanced driver's license
Federally recognized, tribal-issued photo ID
HSPD-12 PIV card
Foreign government-issued passport
Canadian provincial driver's license or Indian and Northern Affairs Canada card
Transportation worker identification credential
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Employment Authorization Card (I-766)
U.S. Merchant Mariner Credential

I do not argue your point, perhaps it is the 43 years of marriage, but sometimes being right is just not worth the pain...

[jmschmidt]

I'm not sure where your "home" is but even an "unenhanced" state driver's license is (or was until recently) still accepted by TSA to board domestic flights. I always carry my passport when traveling anywhere, who knows, someone may offer me ten grand to run there boat from Tijuana to San Diego.

I've also used my TWIC and MMC to board domestic flights. You may have noticed that the people TSA hires for the routine jobs, mostly look like high school kids. I'm sure they all haven't memorize every picture of every kind of federally issued ID in their manuals but a supervisor will always clear you to board with any one of them.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by CSY Man

True, no practical test, only paper exam. That being said, 720 days of Sea Time is required for a USCG Captains License, (4 hours per day) and if somebody can not handle a boat after almost 3000 hours of operating a boat, they should find a different hobby, or occupation.
That being said, here in Fort Lauderdale there is a school for Yacht Master tickets and those guys have to take a test on 50’ Twin engine diesel boat.
Some guys fail the first time. No idea how many hours or days are required for that ticket.

I know a complete idiot with a CG 100 ton license; the guy can barely handle putting down his drink of Scotch whisky long enough to motor his wreck over to the pumpout station 50 yards away.

[john61ct]

Both parents and Presidents should also have stringent qualifying processes.

[fish53]

Originally Posted by CSY Man

Wow, you should tell that to the USCG, they will get right on it.
Thanks for your insight.

Your sincerity as well as your manners are impressive.

[john61ct]

Nice job for the right couple

https://www.sfgate.com/local/amp/East-Brother-Lighthouse-innkeeper-job-opening-13503169.php

[Montanan]

Well just be sure they at least have stayed at a Holiday Inn Express.

There are good captains and then not so good captains, request and investigate experience and referrals before hiring.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgjO1m76Tvw

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by MarathonJohn

I've been reading all these replies and the information within. So, you guys are telling me NOW that I need more than my fancy white hat with the dark visor and the crossed anchors on the front in order to skipper a boat? Every time I check into this site me learns something new. Tanks bouys...

Indeed the rules have tightened, unless you can play keyboards for the Beach Boys, like Daryl Dragon and thereby obtain the title, Captain Keyboard, [shortened to Captain] from their lead singer Mike Love; or be the one and only "Beach Girl", like Toni Tennille, when she played the keyboards touring for the Beach Boys.

RIP Captain Daryl.