Information For Individuals Applying For A Transportation Worker Identification Credential 
   


        The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) developed the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Program in response to the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA). MTSA requires use of a biometric identification credential by individuals who require unescorted access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels. Before issuing a TWIC, TSA must conduct a security threat assessment on the TWIC applicant. An applicant who, as a result of the assessment, is determined to not pose a security threat, will be issued a TWIC. 

http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twic/index.shtm ""This is a message for ALL USCG Licensed people. As of September of 2008 all people holding any Merchant Document must have a TWIC Card (Transportation Worker Identification Credential). Ill quote an industry blog that spells out the process in easy terms" As I promised in my previous post, here is a quick report on progress to get my TWIC. I began by using the Internet to 'Pre-Enroll', and to make an appointment at the closest TWIC enrollment center. All of this is done in conjunction with renewing my USCG Masters license. The TWIC center was easy to find, in part because the Internet offers a "map it" link when making an appointment. I arrived a few minutes early, and was given a simple questionnaire to fill out; basically some Yes/No check boxes about past criminal activity. After a brief wait, I was escourted to a table with a nice lady who began by collecting the $132.50 fee. Payment with credit card is encouraged. NO CASH is accepted. The receipt says you just paid Lockheed Martin. So, now we know who the sub-contractor is. Now, here is where the Pre-Enrollment comes in. When you finished pre-enrolling online, you were instructed to print out a single page that has your name and a large bar code printed on it. You bring that page to the TWIC center with you. They scan your page, and all of information about you that you entered on the internet is now right there. Your name, address, SSN, date of birth, etc, just zip right up on the screen. This saves time, as the nice lady doesn't have to type all this in again; she just shows you the info on a computer screen, and you confirm that it is correct. Now, you get electronically fingerprinted. No more messy ink pads. They take a lot of prints, but it only takes a few minutes to do. Finally, you sit for a quick digital photo (presumably this photo will appear on your actual TWIC card). No smiling allowed. No really, you are not allowed to smile for the TWIC photo. If you don't like the first photo, ask them to take another. I blinked on my first try, and she took a second one. That it. the whole process at the enrollment center only took 10 minutes. Perhaps this is because its all run by a private company and not government employess. One reminder to you, these folks are very serious about your identity and proof of citizenship. A current US Passport is the only document you need here, but if you don't have one of those, be sure you check the list of acceptable documents. So, now I wait a few weeks while the TSA and DHS calculate the likelyhood that I intend to blow something up, and then they call me and I have to go back in person to pick up my TWIC. That is the one unavoidable objection to this entire process; you have to make two trips to the TWIC center. For me, its a two hour drive each way. For some of you, it will probably be worse. Once I finished there, I went over to the USCG Regional Exam Center to file my license renewal application. They had to do three things: take my money ($95.00), take my fingerprints, and check that I had filled out my paperwork properly. Total time at REC: about 1.5 hours. At both stops, I inquired about how this process might be streamlined for professional mariners. And if there were plans to perhaps join the expiration dates of TWICs and licenses.....mostly I received blank stares and polite shurgs in reply. Here is a link to the TWIC home page on the internet: http://www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twic/index.shtm Phil Delano"" Information For Individuals Applying For A Transportation Worker Identification Credential The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) developed the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Program in response to the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA). MTSA requires use of a biometric identification credential by individuals who require unescorted access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels. Before issuing a TWIC, TSA must conduct a security threat assessment on the TWIC applicant. An applicant who, as a result of the assessment, is determined to not pose a security threat, will be issued a TWIC. Each applicant for a TWIC must provide biographic information, identity documents, biometric information (fingerprints), sit for a digital photograph, and pay the established TWIC fee. TSA will send pertinent parts of the enrollment record to the FBI, as well as within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), so that appropriate terrorist threat, criminal history, and immigration checks can be performed. TSA will review the results of the checks to determine if the person poses a security threat, and will notify the applicant of the results. When TSA determines that an applicant qualifies to receive a TWIC, a credential will be produced and sent to the enrollment center at which the applicant applied. The applicant will return to the enrollment center for issuance and activation of the TWIC. Possession of a TWIC does not guarantee access to secure areas because the owner/operator controls which individuals are granted unescorted access to the facility or vessel. Rather, TWIC is a secure, verified credential that can be used in conjunction with the owner/operatorbs risk-based security program that is required in security regulations issued by the Coast Guard. ELIGIBILITY Who must get a TWIC? An estimated one million individuals will be required to obtain a TWIC. This includes Coast Guard-credentialed merchant mariners, port facility employees, longshoremen, truck drivers, and others requiring unescorted access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels regulated by MTSA. I have an appointment on Tuesday to get my TWIC. What a PITA.

> -----Original Message----- > ""This is a message for ALL USCG Licensed people. > > As of September of 2008 all people holding any Merchant Document > must have a TWIC Card (Transportation Worker Identification Credential). >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> snip <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<< > ELIGIBILITY Who must get a TWIC? > An estimated one million individuals will be required to obtain > a TWIC. This includes Coast Guard-credentialed merchant mariners, > port facility employees, longshoremen, truck drivers, and others > requiring unescorted access to secure areas of maritime > facilities and vessels regulated by MTSA. REPLY What happens if a lot of those estimated 1 million people do not get their TWIC? >From what I hear The US authorities have already stated a lot of Vancouver's harbor workers will not meet the criteria set out by the DHS. Surely a similar situation prevails in other major cities? Arild

So, Lockheed Martin gets to collect $132,500,000 for this project!! From the pockets of the USCG licensed mariners and workers. I wonder how much of that L-M gets to keep? Larry H ----- Original Message ----- > After a brief wait, I was escourted to a table with a nice lady who began > by collecting the $132.50 fee. Payment with credit card is encouraged. NO > CASH is accepted. The receipt says you just paid Lockheed Martin. So, now > we know who the sub-contractor is.

Hey that's great .. pretty soon our governments will have fingerprints of everyone in the country. Next, they'll start offering us a cup of coffee while we fill out the forms, then they'll have access to our DNA too! Pretty soon the government will be able to find anyone they want real fast. So catching crooks will be so much easier. That means a lot of law enforcememt officers will have more spare time. Maybe some will get into boating. Once they understand us better, some of their (reported) agressive attitudes towards boaters will soften. That will make our lives a lot easier. I think we should all have a identity card with a barcode of our DNA, our finger prints and our retina scans. In fact, since so many of us already have tatoos ....... ? My cat (the animal) in Spain already has an electronic chip inserted under the skin of its neck that will scan out to prove he is the cat identified in his health (various vaccinations) booklet. I would be the first ( I am absolutely serious here) to stand in line and get an electronic chip inserted once they do that for humans. Think how easy that would make life. No more paying for movies, groceries, marina slips, fuel etc. Just walk through the scanner, and the amount is deducted from your bank account. No more worrying about someone stealing your credit card, debit card PIN code, etc Peter > > As I promised in my previous post, here is a quick report on progress to get my TWIC. I began by using the Internet to 'Pre-Enroll', and to make an appointment at the closest TWIC enrollment center. All of this is done in conjunction with renewing my USCG Masters license. > > Now, you get electronically fingerprinted. No more messy ink pads. They take a lot of prints, but it only takes a few minutes to do. > > Finally, you sit for a quick digital photo (presumably this photo will appear on your actual TWIC card).> Once I finished there, I went over to the USCG Regional Exam Center to file my license renewal application. They had to do three things: take my money ($95.00), take my fingerprints, and check that I had filled out my paperwork properly. Total time at REC: about 1.5 hours. >> Phil Delano"" > > _________________________________________________________________