For any of you that hold Coast Guard Credentials (6 pack included)some changes are coming. If you have not heard of Transportation Worker Identity Credential TWIC you should go to the transportation Safety Administration home page http://www.tsa.gov/ and do a search on TWIC. If you hold any CG License or crenditials you will be required to obtain a TWIC card by the end of 2008. The cards are good for 5 years and then you will need to reapply. I do not know the penalty for non compliance at this time. The cost for the credential will be $137.25. You will need to visit an enrollment center with proper identification to apply and have a background investigation performed. The program will start rollong out in late March at selected ports. At the present time the TSA has the best info. Very soon a TWIC home page will come on line. This is just a notice to anyone holding Coast Guard Credentials. Homeland Security has its costs.
TWIC Card
- Thread starter graybeard
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Doesn't sound like everyone who holds CG Credentials only those who need unescorted access to secure areas. At least that's how I read it.
The program’s goals are:
Positively identify authorized individuals who require unescorted access to secure areas of the nation’s maritime transportation system;
Determine the eligibility of an individual to be authorized unescorted access to secure areas of the maritime transportation system;
Enhance security by ensuring that unauthorized individuals are denied unescorted access to secure areas of the nation’s maritime transportation system; and,
Identify individuals who fail to maintain their eligibility qualifications after being permitted unescorted access to secure areas of the nation’s maritime transportation system and revoke the individual’s permissions.
The program’s goals are:
Positively identify authorized individuals who require unescorted access to secure areas of the nation’s maritime transportation system;
Determine the eligibility of an individual to be authorized unescorted access to secure areas of the maritime transportation system;
Enhance security by ensuring that unauthorized individuals are denied unescorted access to secure areas of the nation’s maritime transportation system; and,
Identify individuals who fail to maintain their eligibility qualifications after being permitted unescorted access to secure areas of the nation’s maritime transportation system and revoke the individual’s permissions.
A silly waste of taxpayer's money to duplicate what is already in place. You have to be identified by the CG, your employer and the yard already, if you have a state driver's license, what more do you need to prove who you are. Is another easy to fake card going to help? Not on your life! The technology is in place to do this millions of dollars cheaper, than some ill thought out, likely to be poorly implemented plan of DHS. VEry similar to the airport restrictions that have done nothing.
The second stupidest idea that DHS has come up with. Airport security being the first.
dave
The second stupidest idea that DHS has come up with. Airport security being the first.
dave
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...with TSA being the common denominator. CG seemed to have thins well under control, wish they hadn't invited TSA to the party.
I work for Lockheed Martin who is enrolling candidates and issuing the cards. The Coast Guard people we are working with, specifically said that 6 pack holders will be required to hold a TWIC card. It will not be required until late 2008. It is not only for access to secure areas of a port but secure areas of the vessel as well. I can guarantee that unless you are a port worker you will not be granted access to any port. You will be checked against national crime data bases, terrorist lists and finger print data bases etc.
According to the CG/TSA/DHS anyone who works on the water, commercially will have to have a TWIC card. Even inland waterways, barge hands and those inshore/offshore drilling platforms. IF you come into or out of a "port" city you will have to have the TWIC. The fly in the ointment, is that the CG/TSA/DHS has not figured out what to do with recreational boaters...nor do they have funding to "complete" the fiasco. Although cards are being issued, many states are fighting that...nor have the order of information or card readers been established.
dave
dave
I wonder if a USCG auxilitary Homeland Security identifaction card that is obtained from Homeland Security is the same and/or will suffice for this. As some of you know, certain USCGA personnel have had security checks done on them and they have been issued ID's.
It seems to be the latest government boondoggle.
It seems to be the latest government boondoggle.
Joe
They tell me that no existing ID can be used in lieu of the TWIC. Everyone will need to be cleared and entered independent of current id, thus the need for an entirely new infrastructure to support the program. Even those of us with DOD/DOE clearances, and lord knows I have been vetted many times over, will need to be parsed and passed by the TWIC. My guess is that "contractors" will be passed through transparently like in aviation and other "new" security plans that have been put in to place. Sadly security is only as strong as your weakest link and the physical security that is in place to support these new layers of security.
It will turn out to be a several billion dollar annoyance, by most everyone's measure.
They tell me that no existing ID can be used in lieu of the TWIC. Everyone will need to be cleared and entered independent of current id, thus the need for an entirely new infrastructure to support the program. Even those of us with DOD/DOE clearances, and lord knows I have been vetted many times over, will need to be parsed and passed by the TWIC. My guess is that "contractors" will be passed through transparently like in aviation and other "new" security plans that have been put in to place. Sadly security is only as strong as your weakest link and the physical security that is in place to support these new layers of security.
It will turn out to be a several billion dollar annoyance, by most everyone's measure.
The TWIC is federally mandated and all workers entering secure aqreas of a port will be required to have a card or be escorted by someone with a card. If you are licensed by the coast guard (6 pack) you will be required to have a card simply due to the fact you are carrying CG credentials. All existing ID that is currently used by port workers is to be replaced by the twic card, no exceptions. You are right that some states, unions, port owners, are fighting it but guess what, it is happening. The first enrollment station will be opening in a very short time. The cost of the credential is $137.25. If you have a commercial drivers license and are hazmat endorsed there is a discount. This system will most probably move to airline workers, rail workser, mass transit workers over the next several years. The papers are already talking about it. You can expect to see some items in the news in the next few months.