(TWIC) Transportation Worker Identification Card

NYCAP123 · 07-03-2009, 08:30 AM

This should also be noted:

Are individuals who work on cruise ships required to get a TWIC?
Most cruise ships that call on U.S. ports are foreign flagged and do not have secure areas as defined by MTSA, therefore individuals working on those ships would not require a TWIC. For U.S. flagged cruise ships, if an individual requires unescorted access to areas designated as 'secure' or 'restricted', a TWIC is required. If the individual only requires access to 'passenger access' areas, a TWIC is not required.

Capt. Bill11 · 07-03-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

I believe that would only apply to those working on US vessels or situations requiring access to restricted areas.

According to what I have read, if you have a STCW cert., you need a TWIC.

NYCAP123 · 07-03-2009, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt. Bill11

According to what I have read, if you have a STCW cert., you need a TWIC.

Post 16 is a quote from the TSA website. There is a whole world of mariners who require STCW certification by the IMO who will never be required to have a TWIC as they will never come near a secure or restricted US installation. It's bad enough that our government now has the ability to track a very large segment of our population. Could you imagine us trying to impose that on the world?

Marmot · 07-03-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt. Bill11

According to what I have read, if you have a STCW cert., you need a TWIC.

Think about that for a moment ... the only people who need an STCW certificate are US merchant mariners who hold a merchant mariner's document or license who also work on "... vessels greater than 200 Gross Register Tons (Domestic Tonnage), or 500 Gross Tons (ITC Tonnage), operating seaward of the boundary lines specified in Title 46 CFR Part 7."

An STCW certificate is part of the US merchant mariner's credentials. Anyone can take an STCW course and get a course completion certificate. That certificate is not a USCG STCW Certificate and is not part of the merchant mariner's documentation. A USCG license holder needs a USCG issued STCW certificate for certain work but taking STCW classes does not mean you have an STCW certificate.

For the vast majority of readers on this board, that is those who do not hold a USCG license or rating valid for international service on vessels greater than 500 tons ITC, no STCW certificate is required. Many American crewmembers working on foreign flag yachts have the STCW BST courses and completion certificates but do not have, or need, a USCG STCW Certificate unless they are working under the authority of a USCG license. If you have a CEC, read the fine print ...

K1W1 · 07-03-2009, 02:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

Could you imagine us trying to impose that on the world?

Hi,

Yes, it is done now by anyone even jst changing from one plane to anotherhaving to have the ID, Credit Card Details etc passed to US Homeland Scrutiny prior to the plane even leaving the ground at what ever far flung place they start their journey.

The TWOV of days gone by has now been replaced by a need to run everyone through the same machine and to gather as much info as possible which I am sure is stored abut as securely as wet paper bag hanging from your car aerial at 90mph.

NYCAP123 · 07-03-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Anyone can take an STCW course and get a course completion certificate. That certificate is not a USCG STCW Certificate.

That is exactly the difference. Many are required to have the STCW course completion certificate, but that is not a USCG STCW certificate which requires a TWIC. If they ever get that through though I'm buying more stock in Lockeed Martin.

NYCAP123 · 07-03-2009, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by K1W1

Hi,

Yes, it is done now by anyone even jst changing from one plane to anotherhaving to have the ID, Credit Card Details etc passed to US Homeland Scrutiny prior to the plane even leaving the ground at what ever far flung place they start their journey.

The TWOV of days gone by has now been replaced by a need to run everyone through the same machine and to gather as much info as possible which I am sure is stored abut as securely as wet paper bag hanging from your car aerial at 90mph.

Maybe they should just tatoo a number on our arm. Wouldn't that be easier? Oh yeah, that's been tried.

Capt J · 07-03-2009, 03:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NYCAP123

That is exactly the difference. Many are required to have the STCW course completion certificate, but that is not a USCG STCW certificate which requires a TWIC. If they ever get that through though I'm buying more stock in Lockeed Martin.

The TWIC card is nothing more then an additional tax. I have been in and out of Port Everglades and the Port of Palm Beach. Neither Port even has a means to read the cards, nobody even asks to look at the cards, and IMO it's just another way to tax people. When I renewed my USCG license, the Coast Guard never even asked if I had a TWIC card or to see it or anything.

Capt. Bill11 · 07-03-2009, 04:00 PM

I used to have it bookmarked but of course now I can't find it. But it listed all those who needed a TWIC. And one of the groups listed was those with an STCW cert.. It did not state an STCW cert. in conjunction with any other license or document.

So it read that if you held just an STCW cert. you needed a TWIC.

If I find it again, I'll post it.

Capt. Bill11 · 07-03-2009, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marmot

Think about that for a moment ... the only people who need an STCW certificate are US merchant mariners who hold a merchant mariner's document or license who also work on "... vessels greater than 200 Gross Register Tons (Domestic Tonnage), or 500 Gross Tons (ITC Tonnage), operating seaward of the boundary lines specified in Title 46 CFR Part 7."

An STCW certificate is part of the US merchant mariner's credentials. Anyone can take an STCW course and get a course completion certificate. That certificate is not a USCG STCW Certificate and is not part of the merchant mariner's documentation. A USCG license holder needs a USCG issued STCW certificate for certain work but taking STCW classes does not mean you have an STCW certificate.

For the vast majority of readers on this board, that is those who do not hold a USCG license or rating valid for international service on vessels greater than 500 tons ITC, no STCW certificate is required. Many American crewmembers working on foreign flag yachts have the STCW BST courses and completion certificates but do not have, or need, a USCG STCW Certificate unless they are working under the authority of a USCG license. If you have a CEC, read the fine print ...

Well, when I sent in my paper work to get the USCG STWC certificate after taking the course there was not a mention of whether I held any other merchant mariner's doc. as I recall. I just send in the information showing I had completed the course and they, the USCG, sent me the cert..

Also stews, chefs and the like seem to be able to take the course, send the paperwork off to the USCG and get their STCW certificate.

NYCAP123 · 07-03-2009, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Capt. Bill11

I used to have it bookmarked but of course now I can't find it. But it listed all those who needed a TWIC. And one of the groups listed was those with an STCW cert.. It did not state an STCW cert. in conjunction with any other license or document.

So it read that if you held just an STCW cert. you needed a TWIC.

If I find it again, I'll post it.

If you have a USCG issued STCW Certificate you need it. If you have a SCTW course completion certificate and don't hold a US license or Z-card no. Someday tell a Russian merchant seaman that he has to carry a card that the US Givernment can track and see his response.

Quote:

The TWIC card is nothing more then an additional tax. I have been in and out of Port Everglades and the Port of Palm Beach. Neither Port even has a means to read the cards, nobody even asks to look at the cards, and IMO it's just another way to tax people. When I renewed my USCG license, the Coast Guard never even asked if I had a TWIC card or to see it or anything.

I showed mine at renewal without being asked and I show it at airports because, for $135 I'm getting some use out of the thing. Yes it is "just another way to tax people".

Norseman · 07-03-2009, 07:03 PM

Quote:

The TWIC card is nothing more then an additional tax. I have been in and out of Port Everglades and the Port of Palm Beach

So what did you show to get in and out of Prot Everglades then?
(I assume you mean by road..I get turned back every time without some kind of "Port ID" different from TWIC..

)

Quote:

I showed mine at renewal without being asked and I show it at airports

Hmm, never tried that: Does the airport TSA folks even know what it is..?

I heard the TWIC will be required for aircrew some time in the future, but so far, not required for any airport workers or crews.

NYCAP123 · 07-03-2009, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Does the airport TSA folks even know what it is..?

There is a look of genuine bewilderment on their faces, but since it's TSA they don't question it. (makes me feel real secure in the screeners, but then again....).

Quote:

not required for any airport workers or crews.

Amazing! It's such a joke. An expensive joke on us.

Captcruz · 07-03-2009, 10:26 PM

Quote:

There is a look of genuine bewilderment on their faces, but since it's TSA they don't question it. (makes me feel real secure in the screeners, but then again....).

Amazing! It's such a joke. An expensive joke on us.

Before making these kind of Statements. I would pick up this months issue of Dockwalk scroll to page 56. LICENSING UPDATE
New Merchant Marine Credential Launched"
as you read the requirements you will notice Step(2)
Obtain a Twic. Ensure that you have applied for a Twic or that you already have one issued by the TSA.

Amy Beaver, the head of Maritime Professional Training in Fort Lauderdale wrote this helpful article. Many mariners that are on Y.F have indeed attended this school. I remember when Elmer and Bev started the school in the old Pink shopping building with one classroom,and Ted and Amy were little squirts, now the land is owned and occupied by Shadow Marine.
The school now is a very large and well know Maritime School. When you go to renew your ticket iin the future, tell the above story to the C.G and see where it gets you"

Cheers,

NYCAP123 · 07-03-2009, 11:14 PM

That sounds like an ad for the school. You might have missed:
#26

Quote:

If you have a USCG issued STCW Certificate you need it. If you have a SCTW course completion certificate and don't hold a US license or Z-card no.

and no, I don't expect the TWIC situation to change until enough people complain about it.