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It's a whenever they get to it. And they'll never get to it at all if enough of us don't call our US Senators and ask them to support it. If they don't hear from us, then we're all out $132 for nothing of use to us.
If you cared about your Profession, you would read the posted law and support the TWIC.
It say nothing about hiring a mate on Lake of the woods, Minnisota as proposed by SB 3377 and only the License Captain is required to have the card. No citations of a card Reader installed on your pathfinder.
Inshoreslam, you'll have to explain your statements. There is absolutely nothing in S 3377 about hiring a mate, in Minnesota or anywhere else. And no idea what you're talking about with a citation for a card reader on a boat. I believe I read some posts about needing to verify your card to uSCG, which would mean you'd need a card reader on board your boat. Obviously, that is ridiculous. Certainly nothing in S 3377 about it. Sounds to me like either you have bad information, or you're trying to spread bad information. So please, correct me if I'm wrong here, because I really have no idea where you're getting your information.
S 3377 does nothing more than remove the requirement for the TWIC card for merchant mariners, and instead says that you need the TWIC card if you operate under a license or document on a vessel that is required to submit a vessel security plan, per Title 46, Section 70103(c). Why and how would I be supporting my profession by getting a card that I will never need and handing Lockheed Martin and TSA my $132? I think I'd be supporting my profession much more so by encouraging all captains to call their US Senators and asking them to support S 3377, by saving them each $132 and removing yet another regulatory hoop that captains have to jump through. And one that the huge majority of captains absolutely do not need. Here's a link (with comments towards the bottom of the page) with what a few other captains think about the TWIC requirement:
There's also a "Read the Bill" link there for anyone that wants to read exactly what S 3377 says. There sure ain't nothing in there about mates in Minnesota or card readers on boats!
Saw this on another forum and thought it was interesting. And this from a guy that needs to have it! FYI, Lookheed Martin is administering the card program for the government:
The TWIC card is one of the worst things to happen on the waterfront in a long time. I have had mine for five months and I still can't get access to ports unless I go get that state's port id. Which, in the case of Florida costs 85 for the first card and 35 (I think) for every subsequent annual renewal. I have friends still sailing who have the TWIC and are still getting seriously hasselled every time they try to join a ship. Wasn't the TWIC card supposed to prevent this? If we left port security to their own devices they would shut down international commerce here in the US......Thos poor guys on Lake Champlain will eventually probably be required to get a TWIC, once the Homeland Security realizes they don't have them. The only thing that the TWIC is making more secure is the profit margin for Lockheed Martin.
If you understood the purpose of a TWIC Card, and were not so stubborn and aggreesive, you would know that the TWIC card as introduced would take the place of your paper license, and would serve as your credentials to be a USCG licensed mariner.
Bill 3377 was introduced in Minnesota and supported by a senator who was worried about seasonal occupational captains incurring.
In florida we operate year round and get boarded by the Coast Guard, however you probably don't see the cg in Bern.
Slam, nope. Again you have bad information. The TWIC will NOT take the place of your OUPV and certainly will not be your credentials. It's purpose is to provide access to secure port areas. It is not even recognized as an official government identification, as has been reported by many captains who've tried to use it for that purpose. That may have been the intent when it was introduced (I don't know) but it certainly is not the way it has been presented in recent months.
Yes, Coleman introduced the bill. And my senator, Dole, signed on as a co-sponsor, along with others. They realize it's a unnecc. burden on charter boat and other small business captains who don't even remotely need secure port access. People that want or need clearance to secure port areas can get it. But don't require every single captain in the country to get it! Makes no sense at all. Unless you're Lockheed Martin, or on their kickback list of government officials and employees.
We operate year round up here too. There's quite a strong bluefin tuna fishery here. I probably fish more in the winter months than in the summer actually. Boat is in Morehead City just down the road from 'Bern', and we have to go by Coast Guard station Ft Macon in order to get out the inlet. So I see CG quite regularly, thanks. And I appreciate the job that they do. Need to call them to get my courtesy vessel inspection redone too. Thanks for reminding me. They usually don't board boats that have already called and asked them to come aboard and check things out.
I made my appointment to get my TWIC on Wednesday and was floored to see an all-Spanish version of the website. How long until there's an Arabic version to expedite terrorists getting port access?
__________________ Frank 30' Hydrasports Vector "Jolly Roger"
Re: TWIC for captains 
