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Good Morning!

I just received a preliminary copy of the new USCG “PROCEEDINGS” that is soon to be released.  Some very interesting and good stuff  in there.

One item I found in particular, references the TWIC, (middle of page 22).

Transportation Worker Identification Credential The Coast Guard has a
pending regulatory project related to the implementation of the TWIC in
the maritime sector.

You should keep well informed of the requirements, implementation
schedule, and application process to obtain a TWIC.

All holders of merchant mariner credentials will be required to obtain a TWIC from the Transportation Security Administration.

After the implementation date, YOU MAY NOT OPERATE

UNDER THE AUTHORITY OF A MARINER CREDENTIAL 

WITHOUT A VALID TWIC AND FAILURE TO OBTAIN 

OR HOLD A TWIC MAY SERVE AS THE BASIS FOR

SUSPENSION OR REVOCATION OF THE MARINER

CREDENTIAL.

This pretty much says it all doesn’t it?

  http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/

Touch Keys with you later,

N.

How-Deeeee!  Yup, I’m a wear-en my Minny Pearl hat today.  Some of you may be to young to remember her but, like Maxine (My hero) she told/tells it like it was/is!

Wake up and Smell the Coffee folks, this is YOUR LIVELY HOOD here and you better know what the H*(( you are holding or you will be left standing at the Pier wondering what happened.  I can’t do all of this for you, I can help to a point, but jeez, give me a break.  I know for a fact that the CG won’t do this for you (it just ain’t their job).

Have you ever looked at your STCW Certificate?  I mean really looked at the top of it and noticed all of those wonderful Roman Numerals and wondered exactly what the H*(( they meant?  NO?  Then I  have a real treat for you.

Below is a very short listing of some of the codes and what they mean:
ROMAN NUMERAL = REFERENCE TO STCW (Regulation Code) and
KEY TERM OR PHRASE (what they mean)

These are just a few of the Roman Numerals / Key terms or Phrases you will find on the top of your STCW Certificate.  PAY ATTENTION TO THEM, THEY ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

VI, A-VI/3 = Advanced Firefighting
VI/1, A-VI/1 = Basic Safety Training
III/2, A-III/2 = Chief Engineer Officer
II/2, A-II-2 = Chief Mate
VI/1, A-VI/1 = Familiarization training (all seafarers)
V/1 = Familiarization training (tankers)
VI/2, A-VI/2 = Fast Rescue Boats (proficiency in)
VIII/1, A-VIII/1 = Fitness for duty (watchkeeping personnel)
IV, A-IV, II/1, II/3 = GMDSS (Radio Communication)
II/2, A-II/2, II/3- A-II/3 = Master (general qualifications)
VI/4, A-VI/4 = Medical First Aid/Medical Care (persons designated to provide)
II/1, A-II/1, II/3, A-II/3 = Officer in Charge, Navigational watch
III/1, A-III/1 = Officer in Charge, Engineering watch
III/4, A-III/4 = Ratings forming part of engineering watch (RFPEW)
II/4, A-II//4 = Ratings forming part of a navigational watch (RFPNW)
VI/2, A-VI/2 = Rescue craft (proficiency in)
VI/2, A-VI/2 = Survival craft (proficiency in)

Of course you will not find ALL of these on your STCW if you don’t or haven’t qualified for them so don’t expect to see them all, but know which ones you should have.  If you don’t have them and you know or feel that you should have them SPEAK UP AND FIND OUT or you will be standing shore-side watching your job go bye-bye.

Touch Keys with you later,

N

Touch Keys with you later,

N.

This is the latest press release issued from the U. S. Coast Guard

Coast Guard announces Transportation Worker Identification Credential compliance dates for Oregon, California, Washington, New York WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration announced Thursday that Feb. 28, 2009, is the Transportation Worker Identification Credential compliance date for owners and operators of facilities located within the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Zones of Portland, Ore., Puget Sound, Wash., and San Francisco Bay, Calif., while the compliance date for Captain of the Port Zone of New York is March 23, 2009.

Ports affected by the Feb. 28, 2009, compliance date include, among others, Astoria, Portland, Pacific City, Coos Bay and Port Orford, Ore., Longview, Blaine, Neah Bay, Anacortes, Everett, Seattle, Tacoma and Olympia, Wash., and Crescent City, Humboldt, Bodega Bay, Stockton, San Francisco, Santa Cruz and Monterey Harbor, Calif.

Ports affected by the March 23, 2009, compliance date include, among others, New York City, Tarrytown, Hempstead and Albany, N.Y.

Mariners may use their valid Coast Guard-issued merchant mariner’s document, license or certificate of registry, along with a valid photo ID, to be eligible for unescorted access in secure areas of any facility regulated under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 that has a TWIC compliance date earlier than April 15, 2009.  The date by which owners and operators of vessels and outer continental shelf facilities must implement access control procedures utilizing TWIC is also April 15, 2009.

Owners and operators of facilities regulated under MTSA are responsible for notifying employees of their personal responsibility to apply for and maintain a TWIC.  The TWIC final rule, published Jan. 25, 2007, also requires owners and operators of MTSA regulated facilities to inform employees of the deadlines and methods for TWIC application.

“The Coast Guard continues to closely monitor and encourage TWIC enrollment by working collaboratively with owners and operators of MTSA regulated facilities and vessels as we approach compliance milestones with a steadfast commitment to protect the maritime transportation system while still facilitating commerce,” said Cmdr. David W. Murk, chief of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Cargo and Facilities Division.

The Coast Guard plans to announce additional dates for the compliance phase of the TWIC program in coming weeks.  Compliance will be phased in by Captain of the Port Zones between Oct. 15, 2008 and April 15, 2009, after which all ports must be in compliance and all credentialed mariners must be in possession of a TWIC.

Workers are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible for their transportation worker identification credential and can pre-enroll online at www.tsa.gov/twic.  Pre-enrollment speeds the process by allowing workers to provide biographic information and to schedule a time to complete the application process in person.  The pre-enrollment process reduces the time it takes to fully enroll in the TWIC program and eliminates waiting at enrollment centers.

The TWIC program was established in the Maritime Transportation Security Act and the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act to serve as an identification program for all Coast Guard credentialed mariners and personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas within a port.  The program is progressing steadily; all fixed enrollment centers are open and dozens of mobile sites have been deployed nationwide.  More than 527,800 workers have enrolled to date and thousands more are processed each week.

Additional information and a framework showing expected compliance dates by Captain of the Port Zone is available on the U.S. Coast Guard’s Homeport Web site at http://homeport.uscg.mil/twic.  Also, Captain of the Port Zone maps with ports annotated are available on that Web site under General Information, COTP Zone Maps.  You may also call 1-866-DHS-TWIC (1-866-347-8942) or 1-877-MTSA-AID (1-877-687-2243) for more information.  For assistance via e-mail, please send queries to credentialing@dhs.gov.

Since I have been so neglectful in not posting to my Blog for a long time, I’m going to overload you all today, so hang onto your hats.

Touch Keys with you later.

N.

Here are some statistics concerning the TWIC card as of October 3^rd

Total # Pre-Enrolled: 595,618

Total # Enrolled: 567,187

Total # Cards Issued: 382,231

Remember:

The national compliance date, when all workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of maritime facilities and vessels, and all U.S. credentialed mariners must have a TWIC, is April 15, 2009. However, TWIC requirements for regulated maritime facilities will be phased in by Captain of the Port (COTP) zones leading up to April 2009. Workers needing unescorted access to secure areas at those facilities will be required to possess a TWIC. We strongly encourage workers to apply as soon as possible to avoid any delays and enforcement actions being taken. If workers are concerned about their eligibility due to disqualifying crimes or other circumstances, it is recommended that they apply as soon as possible to account for the appeals and waivers process.

Here is what you need to take with you.

What documents do I need to enroll?

All applicants are required to bring appropriate documentation to the enrollment center in order to verify their identity (click here for a list of approved documents). Applicants can provide any one document from list A or two documents from List B, one of which must be a government-issued photo ID. A good example of appropriate documentation from List B is a state-issued driver’s license and a social security card.

What documentation is an applicant required to bring to the enrollment center if he/she is a U.S. citizen, but was not born in the United States?

Applicants should bring one of the following documents:

1. Department of State - Certificate of Report of Birth (Form DS-1350);

2. Department of State - Consular Report of Birth Abroad (Form FS-240); or

3. U.S. Passport.

Note: If the Certificate of Birth Abroad, Consular Report of Birth Abroad, or an expired U.S. Passport are presented, additional documents will be required to verify identity; see list of acceptable identity documents. If a current (unexpired) U.S. Passport is presented, it is the only identity verification document required.

Here is how much it costs and how to pay.

How much does a TWIC cost?

The fee for a TWIC card will be $132.50 and the credential is valid for five years. Those who hold a valid MMD issued after February 3, 2003, MML issued after January 13, 2006, HME issued after May 31, 2005, or a FAST card, may pay a reduced fee of $105.25. Those applicants choosing to pay the reduced fee must present an MML, MMD, HME, or FAST card at the time of enrollment. If the reduced fee is paid, the TWIC expiration date will be 5 years from the date of the supporting MML, MMD, HME, or FAST card.

What are the methods of payment?

Payment must be made with money order, certified/cashier’s check, corporate check, or credit card (Visa or MasterCard only). Checks should be made payable to Lockheed Martin. Two additional payment options are available for companies to pay for their employees: company purchased pre-paid debit cards or bulk payments. For companies choosing to use the pre-paid option, additional information can be found at http://www.twiccard.com. For additional information on bulk payments please click here for Lockheed Martin’s policy document. In all cases, payment will be made at the enrollment center at the beginning of the enrollment process.

What is the pre-paid debit card for the TWIC Program?

This method of payment is a prepaid Visa® card and is intended for employers who wish to purchase TWICs for their employees. They may be purchased in bulk and are redeemable at any TWIC enrollment center. The website for additional information or purchasing them is at http://www.twiccard.com.

What is the fee for a replacement card?

The card replacement fee (for lost, stolen, or damaged TWICs) is $60.

TWIC Help Desk phone number which is available,
Monday through Friday from 0800 a.m. Until 1200 a.m. EST.

1 - 866 - DHS -TWIC
1-866 -347- 8942

Good day to you all.

It has been quite a while since I sat down to give you any news at all and I apologize.  You could say I have been up to my ears in alligators and I’m trying to say my watch.

One of the most irritating phrases in the English language to me is “Rumor Has it!”  That just flat out drives me CRAZY (and believe me it is a very short drive).   The other phrase that really ticks me off is “the Bottom Line is”, I begin to see red and turn off my hearing about then.

“Rumor has it”, “the scuttle butt is”, “a little birdie told me”, or what ever phrasing you like to say, is that NMC is having “contract” difficulties. 

Hum, now what do you suppose that will mean to you?  It means that a very large portion of the NMC evaluators are under contract and if they are not working, YOU are not receiving the service that YOU are paying for and YOU are going to be waiting a VERY long time for your evaluation to be completed.

Your applications are setting somewhere at NMC between the mail room and the maze they have created for the paperwork to go through to even begin to get to an evaluators desk. (shades of Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark-the last scene)

This is going to be an absolute mess to try and catch up with.  Even if a new contract has been signed, and even if they were only doing a work stoppage for say 1 week, the back log is going to be HORRIFIC!  AND YOU, THE MARINER, ARE GOING TO PAY THE PRICE.

HELL-o that is going to be a “hurts doan-it”any which way you cut it.

Touch Keys with you later,

N.