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The Coast Guard issued a final rule to require owners and operators of certain vessels and facilities regulated by the Coast Guard to conduct electronic inspections of Transportation Worker Identification Credentials (TWICs) as an access control measure.

This final rule also implements recordkeeping requirements and security plan amendments that will incorporate these TWIC requirements. The TWIC program, including the electronic inspection requirements in this final rule, is an important component of the Coast Guard’s multi-layered system of access control requirements designed to enhance maritime security.

Specifically, this regulation applies to the following facilities and vessels (designated as Risk Group A):

Vessels certificated to carry more than 1,000 passengers;

• Vessels that carry certain dangerous cargo (CDC) in bulk;
• Vessels engaged in towing another Risk Group A vessel;
• Facilities that handle CDC in bulk; and
• Facilities that receive vessels certificated to carry more than 1,000 passengers.

This rulemaking action builds upon existing regulations designed to ensure that only individuals who hold a valid TWIC are granted unescorted access to secure areas of Coast Guard-regulated vessels and facilities.

For more information, please view the entire Federal Register notice.

This blog is not a replacement or substitute for the formal posting of regulations and updates or existing processes for receiving formal feedback of the same. Links provided on this blog will direct the reader to official source documents, such as the Federal Register, Homeport and the Code of Federal Regulations. These documents remain the official source for regulatory information published by the Coast Guard.