Maybe I'm on the wrong boat? I was issued a Merchant Marine card in the early '60s. I was never aware of any "expiration date" or renewal rule. The older I get, the fuzzier history becomes!
Anyway, I am trying to locate my shipping records (list of ships I spent time on), and apply for a copy of my lost Seaman card. My card was issued before soc. security numbers became the identifying number on the Seaman document. In fact it was once a no-no to be identified by your Soc. Security info. "Not to be used for identification purposes" was printed right on the SS card. Sorry, I'm rambling, if someone could supply an address, email or ph. number where I can find information on my papers, it'd make a geezer very happy!
Thanks