Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC Card) Due by April 2009

[PelicanII]

The below requirement is just around the corner. All boat captains (Coast Guard Merchant Mariners) are required to have TWIC issued by mid April 2009. Visit the web site for additional information.

TSA: Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)

The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is a vital security measure that will ensure individuals who pose a threat do not gain unescorted access to secure areas of the nation's maritime transportation system.

TWIC was established by Congress through the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) and is administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Coast Guard. TWICs are tamper-resistant biometric credentials that will be issued to workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of ports, vessels, outer continental shelf facilities and all credentialed merchant mariners. It is anticipated that more than 1 million workers including longshoremen, truckers, port employees and others will be required to obtain a TWIC.

 

[DennisS]

I thought this was only necessary if you need unescorted access to the controlled areas of a port. I need one to access the various ships I go on but I don't see a need for a dive boat capt operating out of a local marina to have one

 

[PelicanII]

Hey Dennis S.

I was thinking the same thing until I received a notification from the National Maritime Center.
Check out this site for additional TWIC requirements. USCG National Maritime Center

 

[gene1340]

We definitely all need to have it. That were not very informative about letting us know. I happened to be visiting a buddy of mine at the local rec center and he let me know about the change. It's not cheap either, around $132 unless you recently got your license and it is $105. You don't even go through the uscg to get it. Have to go through the tsa. Here is a link:TSA: Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)

Gene

 

[oldsalt]

I received my TWIC cards only after multiple trips to the TWIC center. Twice their computers were down and, even though I had an appointment, I had to leave without my card. A third time I had made an appointment online but failed to bring my printed receipt so they refused to honor the appointment. You should be able to get your card with two visits. One visit to enroll and a second visit to activate the card. My process took five months.

 

[WetDawg]

Last year I made my appointment on-line. Went down to the processing center at the Port of Miami on my lunch break, got processed and went back for my card in about 2 weeks. Could not have been easier unless they just mailed it to me.

 

[Tortuga James]

I have my appointment this morning to pick up my card. The lady told me that having the TWIC will eventually eliminate going to the REC in person to renew. I will believe that only when it happens.

 

[Eastbayfe]

The lady told me that having the TWIC will eventually eliminate going to the REC in person to renew. I will believe that only when it happens.

I was hoping that there would be some benefit for the added cost. That may well be worth it.

 

[NEWENGLANDCHARTERS]

I went to USCG Sta. BOS to renew my Capts lic. Filled out all the security info (like 20 pages worth) and gave them 2 phots and fingerprints that I had paid for at my locacl police station as per the instructions.


The USCG gave me back the security package and photos and told me they had no idea what that stuff was. I did get my Capt Lic after about 8 weeks of them loosing just about all of my renewal package and having to fax all this stuff back to them multiple times. They took two trips down to Boston and they fingerprinted me on site. Now it would not have been so bad, but I am Ex USN Submarines, Ex FAA and FBI and TSA had all my records in Boston from the previos year. Of course they dont talk with the USCG.

Right hand has no idea what the left hadnd is doing. and its only going to get worse with the new Obamination

 

[Damselfish]

This reminds me of an article I happened to see the other day. You may be amused (or not)-
TSA: Mule skinners need background checks, too - CNN.com