Online appointments available at Coast Guard REC’s

 As part of the ongoing merchant marine licensing centralization project, all Regional Examination Centers (RECs) are now set up for on-line appointments. Mariners are highly encouraged to make an appointment prior to coming to the REC. Now that all RECs have much smaller staffs, mariners who choose to walk in without an appointment run the risk of being served on a “Space Available Basis” only.

Mariners desiring an appointment at an REC can make an appointment by clicking here, then clicking on the appropriate state where the REC the want to visit is located.

 

Transferring TWIC to New Location Is Now Possible

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has announced that TWIC
cards can now be activated and picked up at a different location than the
one where the application was made.  This is to assist applicants who have
been transferred, are doing seasonal work, who have moved their residence
or who are trying to join a vessel. 

When an individual applies for a TWIC card at an Enrollment Center and has
passed the TWIC threat assessment, that individual’s card is personalized
and is returned to the same Enrollment Center for activation.  If an
applicant requests activation at a different location, the card will be
physically transferred to that location.

To request a card transfer to a different Enrollment Center location, call
th e TWIC Help Desk at 1-866-DHS-TWIC (1-866-347-8942) or email the Help
Desk at [ mailto:TWIC.Helpdesk@gcrm.com ]TWIC.Helpdesk@gcrm.com. 

Be sure that the applicant is aware that the transfer can take three-four weeks to
arrive at the Enrollment Center.

 

A message from the National Maritime Center…

Dear Mariners:

“Attached is the January 2009 MLD (Mariner Licensing and Documentation) Performance report, which provides information on processing times for the 36,000+ credentials issued between July 2008 through mid January 2009. The report highlights the gross (mariner and USCG) processing time, as well as the net (USCG) processing time. Additionally, the report highlights the production bottlenecks with a discussion on the cycle times as applications progress through the various production states. Finally, the report concludes with a summary of what the Coast Guard is doing, and what the mariner can do, to further reduce the credential processing time, especially with professional and medical evaluations.”

“Please circulate this widely among your divisions. REC Chiefs, please distribute to your external contacts. This report will be posted on the NMC’s web site and distributed via our list server.”

“Captain David C. Stalfort

“Commanding Officer

“U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE MLD PERFORMANCE REPORT

 

 

 

How to make your TWIC experience quick and easy

The TWIC outreach team published the following memo reminding applicants to be prepared with the correct documentation and accurate information:

 

New dates for TWIC announced

In case you missed the latest in Homeland Security news yesterday, here are the new compliance dates for obtaining your TWIC:

- October 15, 2008 – ALL 33 CFR Part 105 compliant facilities in Sector Southeastern New England must comply with TWIC.

- April 15, 2009 – ALL Merchant Mariners and 33 CFR Part 104 compliant vessels must comply with TWIC.

- June 2008 – Sector Southeastern New England will sponsor Port Safety and Security Forum’s in Rhode Island and Massachusetts to answer additional questions regarding TWIC compliance.

The Department of Homeland Security Press Release on TWIC compliance dates is provided below for your information. If you have questions, please call LT Merridith Morrison at (401) 435-2361 or Merridith.R.Morrison@uscg.mil.

Department of Homeland Security Press Release