CG-FAC
Office of Port & Facility Compliance

Transportation Workers Identification Credentials (TWIC)

All personnel or workers who need access to secure areas of Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) regulated facilities or vessels are required to have a valid Transportation Worker Identification Card (TWIC) or be escorted during the performance of their duties.

The TWIC requirement would also apply to drug and alcohol testing personnel who enter secure areas of MTSA facilities or vessels in order to collect drug tests or to perform alcohol tests.  Individuals who require access to a MTSA regulated facility or vessel without a TWIC can be escorted but escorting provisions are at the discretion of the facility or vessel operator.  If an operator opts to escort individuals without TWICs, escorting will be carried out in accordance with Navigation Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 03-07 which can be found at http://homeport.uscg.mil.

If you are a service agent that contemplates providing services within a MTSA regulated facility or vessel, it is strongly advised that service agents obtain further information on how to apply for a TWIC and the correct use of a TWIC.  A service agent can also work through their contractor for assistance in obtaining a TWIC.

The websites where this information may be obtained is http://homeport.uscg.mil under the Maritime Security/TWIC heading or at the website for Transportation Security Administration https://www.tsa.gov/for-industry/twic.