(TWIC) Transportation Worker Identification Card

Although I didn't agree that an investigation by Homeland Security was necessary in addition to the FBI investigation that's done for a Master's certificate it was at least a reason (albeit idiotic) for the additional fee. Now, the Master's certificate is issued by Homeland Security in West Virginia so what exactly are we paying the additional fee for? Is it so Homeland Security can investigate us twice? Must say, it's weird seeing "Martinsburg, W.V." as the issue port. It used to be that a license was restricted to the issue region. If that ever comes back we'll be running boats down I-80. In the mean time I view the TWIC as nothing more than a tax.

When someone attempts to silence you it shows the reason to talk even louder. Taxation without representation was the reason this nation was formed. This is exactly that. There is no reason for a licensed Master to have to get a TWIC.

The best reason right now is that if you didn't have a TWIC on April 15th, you don't have a USCG license either. Think about that one if you get boarded or have to talk to your insurance company.

As far as the whole program goes, it isn't just for "masters" ... it is the human equivalent of the little numbered tags you see on the ears of sheep. It also transfered a pretty good pile of cash to Lockheed.

That's not a threat, it's a fact. If you hold a USCG license and do not have a TWIC you do not have a valid license. What that means in small boat real life is between you, the Coast Guard, and your insurance company.

There must be thousands of guys in that position though. I had to get a replacement card the other day and there was a "master" in the office who was telling the lady that he had to renew in August so he figured it was time to get a TWIC. Talk about a double-whammy, he will probably be well into late Fall before he has a valid license again unless something truly miraculous has happened in West Virginia.

Fact, threat it amounts to the same thing. Pay the money or lose your license. As for the Master, I had my TWIC 3 weeks after applying and my renewal 2 weeks after submiting the papers.

Hi,

What happens if you are a USCG Master who works outside the US say in the Persian Gulf or South America- Do you need this Card to renew your license no matter if you do not sail into or out of US Ports?

Does this ******* apply to Engineers as well as Deck Officers?

Applies to all USCG license holders, engineers included. The TWIC is now part of the package of certificates required to hold a valid license issued in the land of the free.

Also applies to anyone who holds only a STCW cert.

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

Always go to the source for this kind of information.
http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twic/twic_faqs.shtm#who_gets_twic

"Who must get a TWIC?
We anticipate that over 1.2 million individuals will apply for a TWIC. This includes Coast Guard-credentialed merchant mariners, port facility employees, long shore workers, truck drivers, and others requiring unescorted access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels regulated by MTSA."

http://www.uscg.mil/nmc/stcw_policies.asp

"Who must comply with the STCW?
STCW only applies to Mariners employed 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."

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.

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?

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 ...

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.