Captains! Will you make the deadline? April 15th is the deadline set by the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) for you to obtain your TWIC ID. What is TWIC? That is the Transportation Worker Identification Card, required for unescorted access to secure areas of MTSA-regulated facilities (such as Savannah’s port) and vessels, and all mariners holding Coast Guard-issued credentials (i.e., 6-passenger- and masters-licensed captains). What is different about this card? It will contain your picture and biometric (fingerprint) data to allow a positive link between the card and the cardholder.
Initially, TWIC will be used for visual checks, but the plan is for the Coast Guard and others to eventually use hand-held, outdoor, or indoor readers to verify credentials. “But”, you ask, “I don’t have any business in the port, why do I need one?” Snide political retorts aside, the simple answer is, “because the law requires it”. “So what happens if I don’t get one?”, you wonder. For captains in the near future, probably not a great deal. I think a lot will depend on how aggressively the Coast Guard goes about enforcing the new law. But you will definitely have to face the music when it is time to renew your license. NO TWIC, NO LICENSE.
So, given the ultimate necessity (assuming you want to remain employed on the water), what do you have to do? The procedure is fairly simple. First go on line and pre-register and schedule an appointment with our local enrollment center. Trust me. Don’t skip this step. Walk-ins are seen, but only after everyone else that has an appointment. The day I went, they were down to one computer station. I got in and out fairly quickly (they were only 15 min. behind schedule); but the walk-ins had been there all morning and were probably going to be there many more hours, before they would be seen.
“So, where do I go online?”, should be your next question. Here is a website address that will get you started: https://twicprogram.tsa.dhs.gov/. You can find the nearest enrollment center there, (the Savannah center is at 5214 Augusta Rd., Garden City – next to the dollar store), and set up your account and complete the pre-enrollment form online. Schedule your appointment, then print out the pre-enrollment receipt and take it with you to the center at your scheduled time. You will need to bring the proper identification (acceptable forms of id are spelled out on the website) and the proper means of payment (also spelled out) with you.
The procedure is quick and easy. You will fill out a TWIC Disclosure and Certification form while you wait. When your name is called, you move to a private booth where you are asked to confirm the information that is on the screen in front of you (either from the form you previously entered on the website, or that is typed in by the attendant). Then you will be electronically fingerprinted (no inky fingers) and your picture taken (no smiling, though). Once in the booth, you should be done in 10-15 minutes.
The cost? Normally, $132.50. There are provisions for a reduced rate, but read the fine print on this. Even if you qualify by having other security ids, there may be no advantage, since the expiration of your TWIC will be based on your other security id. A normal TWIC is good for 5 years.
You will be contacted when the background check is complete and the card has been sent to your center. You will be asked to return to the center. Be sure to SCHEDULE your return visit or you will be have to go to the end of the walk-in line. You will have to bring your id back with you, confirm your fingerprints, and supply a PIN number that you can use each and every time your credentials are requested. (Make sure you don’t forget this one… there won’t be any “hints” included in the card.) They will then issue you your TWIC.
Questions? Visit: http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twic/twic_faqs.shtm.