Passport Initiative

The Departments of Homeland Security and State announced the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative to secure and expedite travel. The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require all U.S. citizens, Canadians, citizens of the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda, and citizens of Mexico to have a passport or other accepted secure document to enter or re-enter United States as of January 1, 2008.

 

Currently, U.S. citizens, and some citizens of other countries in the Western Hemisphere are not required to present a passport to enter or re-enter the U. S. when traveling within the Western Hemisphere. The Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (IRTPA, also known as the 9/11 Intelligence Bill), signed into law on December 17, 2004, mandated that the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, develop and implement a plan to require U.S. citizens and foreign nationals to present a passport, or other secure document when entering the United States.

 

• Read the final ruling from the national registry (.PDF)

• Download FAQ's (MS Word) on the topic

• Download the Press release (MS Word) , or APIS Press release (MS Word)

Travel Policy

Did you know that you are officially in travel status if your destination is more than 50 miles one way from either your home or the ship when it is at the school's pier in Seattle, whichever is closer?

 

The School of Oceanography has a four-page document that describes the Travel Policy in full. Click here to download it.

 

Rental Vehicle Policy

1. Any car rented for official business is to be charged on the official UW car rental credit card. Even if you request the Agent to secure us a car, let him or her know that we will be paying for it separately on a special credit card that covers all our insurance needs including the loss-damage-waiver.

    

2. Only the vessel's Master rents a car for the ship for official use. He/She is responsible for keeping custody of the keys and reminding other crew members to whom the keys are given that it is for official ship use only. Unless there is some extraordinary need for vehicular transportation for official business, we recommend that only one car is rented by the ship. The Marine Technicians frequently have need of an additional car for their needs and they follow a similar set of instructions.

    

3. The car must be inspected both by the person on the ship accepting the vehicle and the person dropping it off -- whether a car rental company employee or an employee of the ship agent's office -- and any dings, dents, broken lights, scratches, etc. noted in writing and initialed by both parties. This must be done even if the car rental company doesn't specifically require it. The inspection is to be repeated when the car is turned in.

    

4. If an off-duty crewmember decides to rent a vehicle for his/her own use while in port, then that individual must make his/her own arrangements, use his/her own credit card, and the vehicle may not be used for any official ship's business.

Useful Links

United States Coast Guard - Licensing and Documentation

 

United States Coast Guard - National Maritime Center Approved Courses

 

Transportation Security Administration - Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC)

 

Federal Communications Commission - Commercial Radio Operator Licensing

 

United States Department of State - Passport Applications

 

Mobile Geographics LLC - Live Tracking: Oceanographic Research Ships