A poster on another list advised that there is a proposed
rule pending in the Coast Guard to save USCG licensees
and allow the TWIC card to phased in with license renewals.
I will quote his message saying there is no problem below.
I would hope they would phase it in, but I was told in the following
response they are not at present.
Here is what there credential office said in response to 12 minutes
on the phone and a later email asking questions this morning:
MY QUESTIONS:
1) I am told we must have a TWIC card (by Sept 08) or the $$$ we
spent getting our USCG Merchant Marine licenses as Operator of
Uninspected Passenger Vessels will be useless?
ANSWER: Yes, currently all those requiring a TWIC should meet the
deadline of Sept. 25, 2008.
2) Can we just later apply at Ponce, PR without an appointment to
start the process in another 6 months or so this year, and if we do,
WILL WE BE ABLE TO HAVE IT HELD AN INDETERMINATE TIME FOR US TO PICK
IT UP (Note: I am told that it is a month or more to pick up a
license due to problems and delays issuing the same.)?
ANSWER: Ponce, PR is scheduled to open sometime in the 3rd QTR. It
takes 6-8 weeks to receive notification.
3) Is there any other alternative? We intend to fly back to Iowa -
our home base - sometime after the hurricane season starts - for a
month to 6 weeks in July. (should we apply for and pick up a license
at Peoria??? about a 5 hours drive from the Cedar Rapids, IA airport
where we will fly?)
ANSWER: You can go to www.twicinformation.com to view the various
Ports open/opening across the states to better schedule your enrollment.
The later post from a fellow cruiser advised as follows:
Here is language affecting us. Current licenses or MMDs remain valid
as issued. It is the next one you get that is at issue. You only
need a TWIC soon in special circumstances.
At normal renewal we should get MMCs and not need a TWIC.
The short story, unless you need immediate unescorted access to
secure areas, don’t fret. Wait until you renew.
Will these rules affect all Merchant Mariners?
Yes. All credentialed U.S. merchant mariners must obtain a TWIC. This
includes all persons holding a Coast Guard-issued merchant mariner's
license, merchant mariner's document (MMD), Standards of Training,
Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) Certificate, or certificate of
registry (COR). With the implementation of TWIC, the Coast Guard MMD
would primarily serve as proof of the bearer's professional
qualifications. The Coast Guard has drafted a supplementary proposed
rule (published in the same Federal Register edition as the TWIC
final rule) that proposes to combine the elements of all four current
merchant mariner professional credentials into one certificate called
the Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC). The Coast Guard and TSA are
streamlining the process for the two credentials to reduce costs,
duplication of effort, and processing time for mariners. If the MMC
proposed rulemaking is finalized as currently written, the Coast
Guard would begin issuing the MMC in September of 2008 and would
phase in the replacement of mariner's current credentials over a
period of five years. Mariners would be issued their credential in
the form of an MMC at the time they renew their current credential,
or when applying for a new credential. The proposed rulemaking would
not affect the validity of a mariner's current credential.
Ed
Ed Kelly (& Sue Kelly)
USSV Angel Louise - a Catalac catamaran lying Brunswick, GA
Our Skype Phone (202) 657-6357
Email: EdKelly ("at" symbol) netins.net
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