The USCG Coast Guard’s proposed rulemaking on revisions to Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Requirements for Mariners has cleared the Office of Management and Budget’s (OMB’s) regulatory review process. The Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPRM) and should be published in the Federal Register shortly.
If you weren’t able to comment before the September 30 deadline on the US Coast Guard’s Supplemental Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (SNPRM) on implementing STCW Convention and Code amendments and changes to domestic merchant marine endorsements, you have a second chance. Ditto if you’d like to repeat or expand on comments you did make.
On October 14, 2012 the USCG posted Port Security Advisory (PSA) 4-11 to its Homeport website. In essence, the Advisory removes conditions of entry previously imposed on vessels arriving from the Republic of Congo. “The Coast Guard has determined that the Republic of Congo is now maintaining effective anti-terrorism measures in their ports.”
The Coast Guard has drafted a regulatory proposal revising Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) requirements for mariners. It’s most likely designed to implement section 809 of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010, but details are sparse at this point.
The US Coast has just issued MTSA Policy Advisory Council Decision 02-11 (PAC 02-11), “Waiving Facilities that Transfer Certain Low Risk Commodities.” Owners/operators of MTSA-regulated facilities that transfer or store bulk commodities that are listed in the Decision as being low risk can, as long as they meet certain other conditions, apply to have the maritime security regulations in 33 CFR Part 105 waived as to their facilities.
Several proposed or planned regulations in the recently released “Spring 2011” DHS Semiannual Regulatory Agenda will impact maritime transportation security. Discussed herein are USCG actions regarding: STCW implementation, TWIC Reader requirements, Cruise Ship regulations, Maritime Security updates (MTSA II), Top Screen submissions by certain MTSA facilities, and expanded requirements for NOAD and AIS.
The recent American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) Port Operations, Safety and Technology Seminar included a Panel on “Regulatory Updates Roundtable: Safety and Security.” This Panel included a presentation on “Coast Guard Regulated Waterfront Facilities—Port Safety Requirements”
There have been questions in the maritime transportation industry about the effect of the new National Terrorism Advisory System (NTAS) on Maritime Security Levels. It turns out that the Coast Guard had worked out the answer rather quickly, but, as seems distressingly common in the maritime security field, didn’t do much to let anyone know.
UPDATE: The US Coast Guard Notice referred to below was published on April 5th at 76 Federal Register 18771 and PSA 02-11 has been posted on Homeport and may be accessed as described below.
Original Post:
This post provides information (of sorts) on (1) the status of the US Coast Guard’s interim guidance for voluntary use of TWIC readers and (2) the progress of the TWIC Reader Pilot Program being run by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).