What is TWIC?
TWIC is a common identification credential for all personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas of MTSA regulated facilities and vessels, and all mariners holding Coast Guard credentials. TSA will issue workers a tamper-resistant “smart card” containing the workers “biometric (fingerprint template)” to allow for a positive link between the card itself and the individual.
• TWIC is a common identification credential for all personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas of MTSA-regulated facilities and vessels, and all mariners holding Coast Guard-issued credentials. Individuals who meet TWIC eligibility requirements will be issued a tamper-resistant credential containing the worker’s biometric (fingerprint template) to allow for a positive link between the card and the individual.
TWIC is the acronym for Transportation Worker Identification Credential (“TWIC card”). This card is “a tamper-resistant biometric credential issued to workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of ports, vessels, outer continental shelf facilities and all credentialed merchant mariners.” (1) The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Coast Guard—both organizations in the Department of Homeland Security–administer the TWIC program. About 1.1 million workers, including longshoremen, truck drivers, port operator employees, storage terminal workers, rail workers, U.S. merchant mariners, and others must obtain a TWIC by mid-April 2009, or be denied entry to secure ports, vessels, outer continental shelf facilities, among other destinations. (2) Cargo ship. Source: http://www.tsa.gov/graphics/images/press/twic_100407.jpg; accessed February 26, 2009. James Taylor, who has been with Norfolk Southern for 27 years, shows off his TWIC card. Source: http://hamptonroa
