Twic Implementation News

Admiral Thad Allen, Commandant of the Coast Guard, spoke with MarineNews about the merchant mariner credentialing process, TWIC, the new Centers of Expertise and the modernization of the Coast Guard's internal organization. Visit the Commandant's blog at www.uscg.mil/comdt/blog for more of his perspectives on the workings of the Coast Guard. What's the Coast Guard doing to simplify the merchant mariner credentialing process? Merchant mariner credentialing has been the subject of a lot of concern and reforms going back 10 or 15 years, to when I was a field commander.

The U.S. Coast Guard announced it has submitted to the Federal Register a rulemaking to amend one provision of the Jan. The new rulemaking, which shares the same title as the Jan. 25, 2007 rule, amends the definition of "secure area" in Title 33, Code of Federal Regulations, Section 101.105, to state that facilities otherwise subject to 33 CFR Part 105 located in the territory of American Samoa do not have secure areas for the purposes of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential regulations. This action means that only the facility security officer and facility personnel whose primary employment responsibility is security, will be required to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential per 33 CFR Sections 105.205 and 105.210.

The U.S. Coast Guard urges maritime workers who have not yet applied for a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) to apply as soon as possible before unescorted access to regulated waterfront terminals in West Florida, including the ports of St. Petersburg, Tampa and Manatee, Fla., is prohibited. Beginning Jan. 13, maritime workers including terminal employees, longshoremen, truck drivers, agents and contractors must have a TWIC to gain unescorted access to secure areas of any waterfront terminal regulated by the Coast Guard under the Maritime Transportation Security Act. It can take four-to-six weeks from the time of enrollment to the time that an applicant receives their TWIC, so maritime workers need to enroll as soon as possible to meet the Jan. 13 enforcement date.

The US Coast Guard issued a notice stating that owners and operators of maritime facilities in Hawaii and Alaska must commence enforcement of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) requirement not later than February 12, 2009.  73 Fed. Reg. 56730 Source: HK Law

Captain Bruce Clark, who serves as Director of Maritime Security Projects at the California Maritime Academy (CMA) in Vallejo, Calif., shares with MN some thoughts on current and future maritime safety initiatives. How is Cal Maritime developing the next generation in an industry with evolving maritime security measures. BC    The California Maritime Academy (CMA), a member of the 23 campuses of the California State University System, has been educating and training U.S. Merchant Mariners since 1929.

The House Committee on Homeland Security conducted an oversight hearing on the Implementation of the TWIC Program. In his prepared remarks, Committee Chair Bennie Thompson (D-MS) expressed his concern that the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program is far behind schedule and that the estimates of the number of workers affected are much understated. Testimony was for the record, as the hearing was interrupted by a floor vote. Rear Admiral Brian Salerno, USCG, explained how the program is being rolled out on a port-by-port basis and that progress is being made with regard to the card reader technology. Ms. Cathleen Berrick…

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) providing guidance for implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program in the maritime sector. The NVIC explains the enrollment and issuance process and provides clarification of the regulations. Full implementation of the TWIC program in the maritime sector is planned for September 25, 2008. After that date (and earlier at some facilities), persons may not be allowed unescorted access to secure areas unless they possess a valid TWIC card. The NVIC includes a blank placeholder for the detailed implementation schedule. 72 Fed. Reg. 37537 (Source: HK Law).

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the US Coast Guard issued (at last) the final rule implementing Phase One of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program. The rule, which lays out the process for issuance and initial use of TWIC cards, comes into effect on March 26. Comments on the card replacement fee should be submitted by February 26. The requirement for facilities and OCS facilities to limit unescorted access to secure areas to persons holding valid TWIC cards will come into effect based upon notifications to be published in the Federal Register and will require compliance on a USCG Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone basis.

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report on key challenges that should be addressed before implementing the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program. The GAO recommends that, before implementing TWIC in the maritime sector, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) develop and test solutions to problems identified during testing and those raised by stakeholders in commenting on the TWIC proposed rule in order to ensure that key components of the program work effectively. The agency should also strengthen contract planning and oversight practices before awarding the TWIC implementation contract. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) concurs with many of the recommendations and is already taking steps to adopt some of them.

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) weighed in on the Department of Homeland Security’s proposed rules for implementing the federal Transportation Worker Identification Credential, or TWIC. Reflecting the views of its United States member ports, the trade association noted that while it strongly supports the TWIC program as “an important enhancement to our current security system,” it has significant concerns over the impact of some aspects of the proposed rules on the efficiency of port facility operations and is urging DHS to adopt a more phased-in approach for port facilities. “AAPA is strongly in favor of a nationwide…

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) welcomed the U.S. House of Representatives' approval to increase by 14 percent the funding for the Port Security Grant program in fiscal year 2007. By a vote of 389 to 9, the House version of the FY'07 appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security would provide $200 million in Port Security Grant program funds, compared to $150 million recommended by the House for FY'06. While appreciative of House members for approving an increase in Port Security Grant funding for next year, Mr. Nagle said the annual funding need is still twice what the House voted to provide. He followed…