My TWIC enrollment experience - less that stellar

February 26th, 2008 · Comments - by Richard -

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It comes as no surprise that we in the United States are security aware. Possible threats create new legislation on a regular basis. Today, I enrolled for my Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC.) The office was due to be opened at 08:00. Here’s what happened.

07:57 I arrive at the Anacortes Wa. enrollment location, 5 miles from my home.

08:07 Worker #1 arrives and apologizes for being late.

08:11 Worker #2 arrives

08:12 Workers #1 and #2 discuss if the computer is up an running

(they are subcontractors to Lockheed Martin who is a subcontractor to TSA)

08:12 Second enrollee arrives for a 08:15 appointment

Workers indicate enrollee #2 will be served first (I preenrolled before appointments were offered)

08:13 Phone call is placed stating, “There are workers here to be enrolled.”

08:19 Lockheed Martin supervisor of the enrollment site arrives and unlocks the computer

08:28 Second enrollee is seated for an interview

08:45 Second enrollee’s interview is completed

08:48 I am seated for the interview

My credit card is charged the $132.50 fee

Information on my pre-enrollment form is confirmed

Finger prints are taken (electronically)

Passport is scanned

My picture is taken

09:02 Process is completed

This was day two of the Anacortes, Wa enrollment operation. The signage for the location only exists at the door and is remote. The workers expect the office to be opened through November 2008.

Folks related to the Coast Guard have told me that TWIC came about because the Department of Homeland Security could not get Coast Guard computers and TSA computers to share information. As licensed mariners in the US are aware, we already have gone through a rigorous FBI background check and have been finger printed. The cost for this privilege of this new card is $132.50

I already carry my Master’s License, Passport, and Maritime Consortium (drug testing) Card aboard the vessels I work on.. I wonder how one more piece of ID is going to keep us safer.

Information from the TWIC website reads:

The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is a vital security measure that will ensure individuals who pose a threat do not gain unescorted access to secure areas of the nation’s maritime transportation system.

TWIC was established by Congress through the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) and is administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Coast Guard. TWICs are tamper-resistant biometric credentials that will be issued to workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of ports, vessels, outer continental shelf facilities and all credentialed merchant mariners. It is anticipated that more than 750,000 workers including longshoremen, truckers, port employees and others will be required to obtain a TWIC.

The official TSA TWIC site is here.

_________________________

This post was written by Richard Rodriguez, Rescue Tug Captain, and US Coast Guard approved instructor for License Training. You can read more of his articles at the BitterEnd

About The Author

Captain Richard Rodriguez is a US Coast Guard approved instructor based in the San Juan Islands, Washington. Also a Rescue Tug Captain, Richard's posts on his blog "Bitterend" feature Vessel Assist calls that include live tracking of his vessel.
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Categories: ISPS · Marine Technology · Regulations · Ship Design

Tags: · DHS, Transportation Worker Identification Credential, tsa, twic, USCG

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Jon 6 months ago 1 point
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I enrolled at the TWIC center in NY located at the Whitehall Ferry Terminal. The process there was painless -- the crew there ran things on time and efficiently. The only gripe I have is that they said they would call me back in 3 weeks and it's now been over 4 weeks with no call back. I chalk that up as par for the course with govt/defense contractors.

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Andrew 6 months ago 1 point
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My experience was very much the same in Corpus Christi.

The initial enrollment went relatively on time. I was lucky I planned on arriving 20 minutes early. The office was in such a discrete location with no signage, it took me 20 minutes to locate it once I arrived on sight.

However, weeks later, when I arrived at 0850 for my 0900 appointment to have my TWIC issued to me, I was told to sign in. At 1030 they called me to the desk.

The lady contractor tried to put on a cheery attitude after she noticed the disappointment on my face. She continually stated in different ways how they were running short on staff that day.

My response was that they had no excuse to be short on staff. I reminded her that we are all paying $130 for our cards. With that kind of fee, there can be no valid reason in my mind that resources are not available at all times to ensure appointments go on schedule.

I was there on my time. My employer was not paying me the extra 1 1/2 hour of time I spent waiting for my scheduled appointment. They were also not paying for my $130 TWIC.

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DJ 2 months ago 1 point
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Enrolled: Feb 29, 2008 in Chesapeake, Va. Painless, rather quick process. Was told they would contact me in 6-10 weeks.

Today is June 4, 2008. I e-mail them for the second time to ask the status. The online status check reveals the "card is in production".

Here in San Diego, Mariners are receiving their cards in 3-4 weeks. I asked if I could get a refund and apply elsewhere. Here is their response:

"Unfortunately you cannot cancel the transaction once the information has been taken and submitted for processing. We cannot grant you a refund once the information has been received and processed. If you were to enroll again – the system would flag you as a duplicate and it won’t process your information, which means you would have paid twice without the option of getting a refund".

As mentioned in other posts, the credit card is charged immediately but the promised service is not rendered. To top it off, there is nothing I can do about it.

Wonder what would happen if they were paid "after" the service was rendered instead of before. Bet Lockheed Martin would be pumping out cards a lot quicker!!!

The deadline was extended to April, 2009 and at the rate they are going it will be extended a few more times. I can legally sail until then, so I'm not going to worry about it. Just hope it arrives before it expires!!! LOL

The stations do not vary, enrollee information and when information was transmitted varies and plays a large role in the processing.

We thank you for your continued patience and you will receive a notification.

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