A hot topic last week in the transportation industry: the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the United States Coast Guard have announced a new option for individuals to renew their Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). Starting in August of this year, the TSA will offer eligible TWIC card holders the opportunity to replace their expiring TWICs with a three-year extended expiration date (EED) TWIC. The fee for this will be $60.
The US Coast Guard will consider the EED TWIC as an equivalent alternative to the standard TWIC, and will direct port and vessel operators to accept EED TWIC as they would accept the standard TWIC. This new option is being offered to allow the re-enrollment process more cost-effective for individuals who are US Citizens or US Nationals, and those whose TWICs are due to expire on or before December 31, 2014. Holders of TWIC cards who are not US citizens or national, or who are eligible but do not want to use the EED TWIC option must renew any expiring TWICs by completing the standard enrollment process for a 5 year TWIC, which includes paying the enrollment fee of $129.75. So, there are some significant cost savings available to carriers by using the EED TWIC!!!
This Extended Expiration Date TWIC is a ONE TIME temporary extension of the current TWIC; upon expiration of a 3 year EED TWIC, the cardholder will be required to enroll for a standard 5 year TWIC.
A review of the TWIC Program: the credential provides a tamper-resistant biometric (the use of a person’s unique physical and other traits for the purposes of identification and security) permit to eligible maritime workers requiring unescorted access to secure areas of port facilities and vessels regulated under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA). To date, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has enrolled more than 2.1 million individuals into the TWIC program and approximately 1.9 million TWIC cards have been activated.
Have further questions on the TWIC? Visit their website, or contact the TWIC help desk at (866) 347-8942.
