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US Coast Guard Proposes New TWIC Delay
The U.S. Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register that it proposes to further delay the effective date for certain facilities affected by the final rule entitled “Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)—Reader Requirements,” published in the Federal Register on August 23, 2016.The current effective date for the final rule is May 8, 2023. The Coast Guard proposes delaying the effective date for: facilities that handle certain dangerous cargoes in bulk…
TWIC Renewals Now Available Online
Mariners and other transport workers seeking to renew their Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) will now be able to do so online following recent changes enacted by the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA).Starting August 11, 2022, current TWIC holders are able to renew their credentials online, which eliminates the need to go to an enrollment center for most applicants, including U.S.
Safeguarding the Maritime Transportation System During the COVID-19 Pandemic
The marine transportation system (MTS) is critical to both our national security and economic prosperity. The U.S. Coast Guard has an enduring responsibility to safeguard the MTS and enable the uninterrupted flow of maritime commerce. While Coast Guard Prevention missions normally address the systemic risks to the MTS through a variety of regulatory and compliance activities on a day-to-day basis,…
Regulatory Reform: Good Ideas … Ready to Start?
Regulatory reform is one of President Trump’s priority agenda items. Upon taking office, the President issued a number of Executive Orders focusing attention and demanding action on the myriad of regulations impacting American businesses.Last May, the reform spotlight fell on maritime regulations when the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), published a Request for Information (RFI) on…
Top Regulatory Concerns on the US Commercial Waterfront
A top 10 list of regulatory concerns is by no means all-inclusive, but it does bring to light the full weight of the regulatory hammer on the collective domestic commercial waterfront. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness…
Insights: Margo Marks -President, Beaver Island Boat Company
Margo S. Marks is President/General Manager of Beaver Island Boat Company, Beaver Island, Mich. The company has provided passenger, vehicle and freight services, between Beaver Island and Charlevoix, Mich. since 1984. The first ferry service to the island began in 1890. B.I. Boat Company operates two subchapter K vessels with a capacity of up to 294 passengers and 16 vehicles on the larger vessel, and 172 passengers and 9 vehicles on the smaller vessel.
TSA Boosts Maritime Security in a Big Way
Though most visible to the general public for its work at America’s airports, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also helps to secure the country’s transportation network in a number of other ways, including assisting the U.S. Coast Guard in securing the nation’s critical maritime facilities, structures, systems, assets and services. America’s vast marine transportation system encompasses some 25,000 miles of navigable waterways, the Great Lakes and St.
US Coast Guard Announces Final TWIC Rule
The U.S. Coast Guard announced Tuesday the publication of the final rule concerning Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) reader requirements. The…
Shore Leave: Re-think on Balancing Security, Seafarer Rights
Before port states became hyper-sensitive to security issues, shore leave was natural part of a seafarer’s life. You worked long and hard hours at sea, often for extended periods of time on long voyages. When the ship reached port, you went ashore and decompressed, connecting with family and friends. That and much more changed after the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001. The IMO adopted the International…
Avoiding Pitfalls on the Water
When a land-based contractor decides to work on water, risk can arise from unexpected places. It doesn’t have to be that way. In the past, companies involved in the marine industry, whether they were vessel operators, riggers, longshoremen, ship builders, repairers, or construction companies were, by and large, specialized and most companies focused on one niche aspect of the industry. Fast forward to 2015 and it is clear that our industry has changed.
USCG Proposes New Rules for Maritime Facilities Access
Notice of proposed rulemaking by U.S. On Monday, the U.S. Federal Register published a notice of proposed rulemaking by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) to implement…
TWIC’s Last Hurdle is Scaled
Card reader technology is tested, proven and in use, nationwide. While the maritime industry awaits the Fed’s edict on MTSA, the solution already exists. The Maritime…
Are our Ports Safe?
Two recent reports have raised alarms about the security of our ports and the cargo that enters them by containers every day. The top North American container ports handle more than 35 million containers per year bringing vital goods to U.S. homes and companies every day. Without this freight, our economy would be at a standstill. But one nuclear device placed into a shipping container could wreak havoc not just at the port it enters…
Smart Card Alliance Conveys TWIC Suggestions to USCG
Limiting the use of Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) smart cards and readers will create significant security vulnerabilities in our maritime infrastructure…
Port of Houston Tonnage and Revenue Up
Tonnage is up this year at the Port of Houston Authority, with container tonnage through May up by 9%, Executive Director Len Waterworth reported at Tuesday's meeting of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. Waterworth also reported that May operating revenue was at an all-time high of $20 million, up 4% or $800,000. This marked the first time in Port Authority history that operating revenue has exceeded $20 million.
Why TWIC?
GAO finds it is broken, and now the question is; can it be fixed? Recently, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a scathing report on the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) electronic reader pilot test and on the TWIC program in general. The GAO said that the test of the electronic readers that are intended to largely automate access of credentialed maritime workers into secure areas not only failed…
Insights: Rear Admiral Joseph A. Servidio
Rear Admiral Joseph A. Servidio is Assistant Commandant for Prevention Policy overseeing Inspections and Compliance, Marine Transportation Systems, and Commercial Regulations and Standards. Theses directorates include waterways management, navigation and boating safety, commercial vessels, ports and facilities, merchant mariner credentialing, vessel documentation, marine casualty investigation, inspections, and port state control.
U.S. Coast Guard to Host Public Meeting
Media are invited to attend the public meeting on the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Reader Requirements Notice of Proposed Rulemaking April 18, 2013.
US Coast Guard Schedule TWIC Public Meetings
The U.S. Coast Guard public meetings concern the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) proposal. The meetings are scheduled in accordance with the…
PVA Weighs in on TWIC Rulemaking
“PVA commends the Coast Guard for acknowledging, in its proposed rule, that virtually all U.S. flagged passenger vessels are appropriately secure and that an expensive TWIC reader would not add to their security. We note that the proposed rule would not require a TWIC reader for vessels carrying one thousand passengers or fewer or for vessels of any capacity having 14 or fewer crew members required to have TWICs.