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Coast Guard Eases TWIC Requirement For Certain Mariners.

December 22, 2011

Because the SAFE Port Act of 2006 required all mariners to obtain and hold a valid Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) as a precondition for receiving an Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), the Coast Guard, to avoid duplicating screening efforts, discontinued some of the screening and information-gathering methods that it previously used in its credentialing process. Those screenings are now done as part of the TWIC credentialing process.  Today the U.S. Coast Guard announced in the Federal Register a new policy and a forthcoming regulatory solution which will exclude certain mariners from the requirement to obtain and hold a TWIC card in order to receive a MMC.

The CG-543 Policy Letter 11-15 Solution - This policy applies to mariners who are inactive; or not operating under the authority of their MMC; or who operate on board vessels that do not have a security plan. The vessels included under the new policy are:

(1)        Uninspected passenger vessel of less than 100 gross register tons (GRT) (six-pack boats);

(2)        Vessels inspected under 46 Code of Federal Regulation (CFR) subchapter T (small inspected passenger vessels of not more than 100 GRT) , except those on international voyages; and

(3)        Towing vessels not involved in towing barges inspected under 46 CFR subchapters D, I or O; and

(4)        Towing vessels involved in fleeting, docking, or ship assist.

Mariners who work on the above vessels will be permitted to renew an existing MMC without submitting proof of holding a valid TWIC. However, mariners who are being issued an original MMC, or who never held a TWIC, will still have to to enroll for a TWIC at a TWIC enrollment center. They will also have to pay the associated fees with getting a TWIC.  This is required because the TWIC enrollment center is the only place where the Coast Guard can obtain biometric information (fingerprints) from an applicant. The major difference for mariners applying for their original MMC who will be working on board vessels (1) through (4) above, is that they will not be required to return to the TWIC enrollment center to pick up their TWIC if they choose not to.  

Other mariners renewing their MMC, who do not require a TWIC, may skip the TWIC enrollment process and apply for a MMC directly with a Regional Examination Center (REC).  If a mariner chooses to do this, the criminal “background check” conducted by the NMC will be named-based only.  However, these mariners will need to affirmatively indicate that they do not desire a TWIC and that they understand that name-based processing could significantly delay processing. Of course mariners renewing their MMC may still choose to enroll for a new TWIC at a TWIC enrollment center and pay the applicable fees.

Regulatory Solution - On October 15, 2010, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 became law. Section 809 of the Act, permits the Secretary, acting through the Coast Guard, to exempt any mariner who does not require unescorted access to a secure area of a vessel from the requirements to hold a valid TWIC as a precondition of receiving or holding a MMC. The Coast Guard is in the process of considering regulatory changes to reflect the appropriate fee structure for mariners impacted by Section 809 of the Act. The regulatory project would propose to adjust a portion of the MMC fees to compensate these mariners for costs associated with enrolling for a TWIC.     

Coast Guard Proposed Rulemaking to Implement the STCW 2010 “Manila” Amendments.
The Coast Guard proposes to amend the existing regulations that implement the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW Convention), as well as the Seafarer’s Training, Certification and Watchkeeping
Code (STCW Code). The changes proposed in the Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) address the comments received from the public response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), in most cases through revisions based on those comments, and propose to
incorporate the 2010 amendments to the STCW Convention that will come into force on January 1, 2012. In addition, this SNPRM proposes to make other non-STCW changes necessary to reorganize,
clarify, and update these regulations.  Significant Changes, Include the Following

Coast Guard rescinds OICNW training requirements on ships of more than 200GRT/500GT

With a surprising and an unexpected move the Coast Guard has eliminated the Officer in Charge of the Navigational Watch (OICNW) training requirements. The Coast Guard's Mariner Credentialing Program Policy Division (CG-543) announced in the Federal Register on July 1, 2011 a new Policy Letter No. 11-07.  The policy letter is guidance to the National Maritime Center pertaining to applicants who are qualifiying for an officer endorsement (license) through in-service experience via the "Hawespipe".......  to read the entire article "Click" New OICNW Training Requirements. To view CG-543 Policy Letter No. 11-07.

Towing Vessel and Tugboat Industry

Alternate Path to Obtaining the Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels 

Source: Federal Register Vol.73, No. 177, page 52789 Final Rule: Training and Service Requirements for Merchant Marine Officers. Effective: October 14, 2008

The Coast Guard has made a regulatory change to allow for an apprentice mate of towing vessels to reduce sea-service time for mate (pilot) of towing vessels by completing additional approved training, and provide an alternate path to mate (pilot) of towing vessels for master of steam or motor vessels of any tonnage that is 200  GRT or less. These changes are intended and expected to eliminate confusion and provide alternate training and service requirements for mate (pilot) of towing vessels. To see the full final rule "click" Federal Register.

BIG CHANGE - The Radar Observer Endorsement with expiration date, will no longer be required on the merchant mariner’s license.

This final rule also allows for the removal the expiration date of the radar-observer endorsement from the merchant mariner’s license, Each person who is required to hold a radar endorsement must have their certificate of training readily available to demonstrate that the endorsement is still valid.

For the purposes of this section, ‘‘readily available’’ means that the mariner must carry the original certificate of training or a notarized copy thereof onboard. Alternatively, the mariner must provide a copy of the certificate of training to the requesting entity within 48 hours. The requested material may be delivered either physically, electronically, or by facsimile.

Towing Vessel Officer License Career Path

The Coast Guard has established requirements and rules for licensing mariners who operate towing vessels, whether inspected or uninspected. The interim rule became effective on May 21, 2001, and the final rule became effective on September 15, 2003. As a result, new towing vessel licenses have been created with levels of qualification, enhanced training and operating experience, which also includes practical demonstration of skill.  View and print the Towing Vessel Officer License Guide for the Coast Guard requirements for  Inland and Near Coastal Towing Vessel Licenses.  

Towing Vessel Officer License - Abbreviated Guide of Coast Guard Requirements

Coast Guard Approved Towing Vessel Apprentice Mate (Steersman) Course

Course Length: 16 hours (2 days)

This course provides training to mariners seeking a license as Apprentice Mate (Steersman) of Towing Vessels. Any student successfully completing the course will satisfy the examination requirements of 46 CFR 10.205(i) for original issuance or 46 CFR 10.209(c)(iii) for renewal of a license as Apprentice Mate (Steersman) of Towing Vessels or Master or Mate (Pilot) of Towing Vessels; provided that they either: 

(1) hold a license as Master Not More Than 150 or 200 Gross Tons; –OR–

(2) hold a license as Master 25, 50, or 100 Gross Tons and have completed our 36-Hour Upgrade Master of Vessels Not More Than 100 Gross Tons to Master Not More Than 200 Gross Tons course WITHIN ONE YEAR of completion of the Apprentice Mate (Steersman) course; –OR–

(3) have completed our 56-Hour Operator of Uninspected Passenger Vessels (OUPV) and our 24-Hour Upgrade OUPV to Master 100 Gross Tons and our 36-Hour Upgrade Master of Vessels Not More Than 100 Gross Tons to Master Not More Than 200 Gross Tons course WITHIN ONE YEAR of completion of the Apprentice Mate (Steersman) course.

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Towing Vessel Officer Designated Examiner Training

Candidates for the Towing Vessel Officer USCG License must be able to demonstrate proficiency and ability to the levels required in a Towing Officer Assessment Record (TOAR). To document their demonstrations of proficiency in the TOAR, candidates must be assessed by a qualified Designated Examiner (DE).

Part of the Coast Guard’s definition of a Designated Examiner is "a person who has been trained or instructed in techniques of training or assessment." This training course satisfies that part of the requirement for a Designated Examiner.

A certificate of completion from this training is accepted by the U.S. Coast Guard as meeting the intent regarding the DE in the Coast Guard’s Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 4-01, Licensing and Manning for Officers of Towing Vessels.

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For More Information Contact:
QUALITY MARITIME TRAINING, LLC
8601 4TH STREET NORTH, #209., ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA 33702
Telephone: (727) 209-1811 Toll Free: 800-581-5509
FAX: 727-209-1814
Email: courses@qualitymaritime.info