Well, the CG announced they are going back to the pre / 2009 style licenses printed on 8-1/2 by 11 paper. Except that they are not returning, they are somehow making something worse.
They are sending an origami fold-it-yourself MMC. The link explains it.
What makes it slightly less bad is you have no requirement to fold it into the ridiculous book. The front page will be your ID, and the back page will be your license and/or endorsements. However, as this is your only ID from USCG (seaman’s ID), you may be forced to fold it as many countries (and even some US military bases) have you carry your mariner’s ID on shore leave, and TWIC does not count for them. How third-world will US mariners look with a folded-up origami ID?
What’s not clear from the announcement. Are they printing the inside/back page landscape and making them look like the pre-2009 licenses and almost every diploma or doctor’s license ever? Or will it be a portrait? Maybe Mr. Calvo knows?
You still have to unfold to read this page (its back of the 8-1/2 by 11 sheet with your ID and “front and back covers”)
At least they are maybe fixing printing delays. Perhaps we can convince them to make it look more like an old-school framing license with a separate going ashore in foreign ports ID later? Like we had from Merchant Mariners Document and License.