33 CFR Part 104 - MARITIME SECURITY: VESSELS

The Coast Guard announces a public meeting to take place on May 2, 2013, in Seattle, Washington to receive comments on a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on March 22, 2013, under the title “Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)—Reader Requirements.” The Coast Guard encourages members of the public to attend this meeting and provide oral comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking on TWIC reader requirements.

The Coast Guard announces a public meeting to take place on April 25, 2013, in Houston, Texas to receive comments on a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on March 22, 2013, under the title “Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)—Reader Requirements.” The Coast Guard encourages members of the public to attend this meeting and provide oral comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking on TWIC reader requirements.

The Coast Guard announces a public meeting to take place on April 18, 2013, in Arlington, Virginia to receive comments on a notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on March 22, 2013, under the title “Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)—Reader Requirements.” The Coast Guard encourages members of the public to attend this meeting and provide oral comments on the notice of proposed rulemaking on TWIC reader requirements.

In this Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM), the Coast Guard proposes to require owners and operators of certain vessels and facilities regulated by the Coast Guard to use electronic readers designed to work with the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) as an access control measure. This NPRM also proposes additional requirements associated with electronic TWIC readers, including recordkeeping requirements for those owners and operators required to use an electronic TWIC reader, and security plan amendments to incorporate TWIC requirements. The TWIC program, including the proposed TWIC reader requirements in this rule, is an important component of the Coast Guard's multi-layered system of access control requirements and other measures designed to enhance maritime security. This rulemaking action, once final, would build upon existing Coast Guard regulations designed to ensure that only individuals who hold a TWIC are granted unescorted access to secure areas at those locations. The Coast Guard has already promulgated regulations pursuant to the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) that require mariners and other individuals to obtain a TWIC and present it for inspection by security personnel prior to gaining access to such secure areas. By requiring certain vessels and facilities to perform TWIC inspections using electronic TWIC readers, this rulemaking would further enhance security at those locations. This rulemaking would also implement the Security and Accountability For Every Port Act of 2006 electronic TWIC reader requirements.

The Coast Guard announces the availability of three policy letters providing guidance to vessels and mariners subject to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Seafarers, 1978, as amended (STCW). These letters provide guidance on: The hours of rest requirements of the 2010 amendments to the STCW Convention and Code; issuance of endorsements and approval of training for Vessel Personnel with Designated Security Duties (VPDSD) and vessel personnel requiring security awareness training; and issuance of other endorsements and approval of other training to meet the 2010 amendments. These letters are necessary to provide guidance to affected parties until regulations implementing amendments to the STCW are promulgated.