Identification for Crew Members

The US Coast Guard has issued a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would require each crewmember on a foreign commercial vessel en route to a US port to carry acceptable identification when in US navigable waters, for presentation on demand.  “Acceptable identification” is defined as a passport; a US Permanent Resident Card; a US merchant mariner’s document; a US Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC); or a Seafarer’s Identification Document (SID) issued in accordance with ILO 185.  The intention is for this to apply even if the crewmember never leaves the vessel while it is in the US.  If the crewmember intends to go ashore in the US, all the current immigration requirements (particularly the US visa requirement) will apply.

The vessel operator will be required to ensure that crewmembers are in compliance and violations could mean control measures being taken against the vessel and both the seafarer and the vessel operator being subject to civil penalties.  Comments are requested on the proposal by July 14.