All TWIC Enrollment Sites Are Now Open and Ready for Business

Press release:

Sept. 17, 2008
TSA Public Affairs: (571) 227-2829
WASHINGTON – The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) today announced that all Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) fixed enrollment sites are open and ready for worker registration. Port and longshore workers, truckers and others nationwide are now able to enroll in the Department of Homeland Security's TWIC program at any one of the nearly 150 sites.

[click here to go to the TSA announcment]

In case any captains out there still operate under the misunderstanding that they will not need a TWIC, here is a snippet from the official USCG
NAVIGATION AND VESSEL INSPECTION CIRCULAR NO. 03-07. (from page 7 of that document):

Also by (the deadline), all mariners will be required to hold a TWIC in order for their license, MMD, COR, or STCW endorsement to remain valid.

Without a TWIC, your license is invalid. Don't think you can wait. This whole program has been plagued by confusion, delays, and poor communications, especially on the part of the USCG, who at the local level are barely up to speed on this issue. I still see Internet forums with captains quoting local CG personel that they won't need a TWIC. Do not make the mistake of going to the USCG for advice about the TWIC. The USCG has made their official position very clear with the NVIC quoted above.

TWIC Stickler

Some guys are just sticklers for the truth. Consider the email I received in response to my post that everyone has to get the TWIC.

"Yeah, but what is the actual law that says I gotta have a TWIC if I don't use my licence? I don't believe that I gotta have it if I never use my ticket."

Here it is. Read 'em and weep:

CFR Title 46: Shipping
PART 10—LICENSING OF MARITIME PERSONNEL Subpart A—General

§ 10.113 Transportation Worker Identification Credential.
By September 25, 2008 all mariners holding an active License, Certificate of Registry or STCW endorsement issued under this part must hold a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) issued by the Transportation Security Administration under 49 CFR part 1572. Failure to obtain or hold a valid TWIC may serve as a basis for suspension or revocation of a mariner's license, COR or STCW endorsement under 46 U.S.C. 7702 and 7703.

Please note it says "all mariners holding an active License..." not using or working under or acting as, but holding. Translation: If there is an unexpired USCG license with your name on it, you must have a TWIC by Sept 25, 2008, whether or not you ever intend to use the license or work as captain, or enter any secure areas.



Furthermore:

Failure to obtain or hold a valid TWIC may serve as a basis for suspension or revocation of a mariner's license, COR or STCW endorsement under 46 U.S.C. 7702 and 7703.

What part of "suspension or revocation" do you want to take a chance with? Maybe I'm on the cutting edge (doubtful), but I am really surprised about how much confusion and misinformation is running around out there about this TWIC issue. It just seems so simple to me - after Sept 25, 2008, the USCG will accept only one proof of your background and identification, and that will be the TWIC. Without that proof, your license becomes void. End of story. Get a TWIC or surrender your license.