TWIC at FLIBS

The Transportation Workers Identification Card (TWIC) deadline is approaching (April 15th, 2009), and it’s time to get registered. If you’re attending this year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, it should be easy.

The not-for-profit MIASF (Marine Industries Association of South Florida) is registering licensed captains for their TWIC cards at this year's show. The cost is $132.50 per person (same as the government price), and should only take a few minutes if you pre-register. You can do that here or by calling 1-866-347-TWIC (8942).

If you’ve got a license, you need to get a TWIC card. To make sure there is no confusion about what MIASF is offering, I’ve pasted their press release below.

Fort Lauderdale, FL (September 15, 2008) - During this year's 49th Annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), the Marine Industries Association of South Florida (MIASF) will host a Transportation Workers Identification Card (TWIC) Enrollment Center. The purpose of the Center is to facilitate registration of United States Coast Guard (USCG) licensed mariners and others who are required by recent changes in USCG regulations to have a TWIC and to also serve as a source of information and outreach for the program.

Marine Industries Association of South Florida, owners of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, recognized the important opportunity the world's largest boat show offers and is working in collaboration with the USCG to organize the enrollment center that will be located in the Marine Professionals, Inc. (MPI) headquarters in the South West corner of the Seabreeze building at the Bahia Mar Yachting Center. The EnrollmentCenter will open on Wednesday, October 29th through Sunday November 2nd from 10 am to 6 pm and on Monday November 3rd from 10 am to 4 pm.

TWIC is an identification credential for all personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas of Maritime Transportation Security Administration (MTSA)-regulated facilities and vessels, and all United States mariners holding Coast Guard-issued credentials. "All U.S. Licensed merchant mariners need to get a TWIC regardless if they access a port or a secure facility," says Steve Krivdo, Port Security Specialist with the U.S. Coast Guard. "Many licensed mariners don't realize they need to get the TWIC." The TWIC compliance date for mariners and facilities located within the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Zone of Miami, which encompasses the Northern Keys to Fort Pierce, is January 13, 2009.

The cost of the TWIC is $132.50 and is payable by Credit Card, Money Order or Certified Check. Pre-registration is encouraged as it will reduce the enrollment process to approximately 10 minutes when the applicant is prepared with approved identification.

Those mariners planning to utilize the FLIBS TWIC Enrollment Center are encouraged to visit
Transportation Worker Identification Credential or call 1-866-347-TWIC (8942) and take advantage of the pre-enrollment opportunity.

The MIASF is a not-for-profit marine trade organization created in 1961 to promote and protect the sound growth of the marine industry in South Florida for the benefit and education of its members, the community and the environment. The Association has 850 members in Broward, Dade and Palm Beach Counties and is the owner of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.

Viking's Latest and Largest

Viking Yachts has launched its largest sportfisherman to date, an 82-footer destined to prowl the deep.

This battlewagon sports more than 21 feet of beam and 235 square feet of cockpit space, which includes mezzanine seating. Her girth enables the builder to provide a wide-open saloon with teak joinery throughout the interior. There's an L-shape here with stowage below as well as a 52-inch plasma TV, which rises from cabinetry on the starboard side. In addition, galley countertops are all done in granite. The 82 features four staterooms, plus a private crew quarters.

Other features include cockpit misters, built-in under-mount freezers, tackle and gear stowage, insulated fiberglass livewells, fish wells, and stowage, all of which are equipped with stainless steel gas strut supports.

The flying bridge has a center helm console, which is outfitted with three Murray Products ladderback helm chairs. Steering is power-assisted hydraulic with electronic engine controls and trolling valves.

The Viking 82 Convertible is powered with MTU Series 2000 diesels and should cruise around 30 knots (34.5 mph) and a top end around the mid-30-knot range (40 mph).

Sunreef 70 Powercat

Sunreef Yachts in Gdansk, Poland, recently launched its first powercat, a resin-infused 70-footer.

According to the builder, this catamaran can be powered by twin 870-hp diesels engines, which should help the vessel top out at 30 knots (34.5 mph). However, if you're into long-range cruising, the 70 can also be outfitted with smaller 370-hp diesels, which provide a cruise speed of 12 knots(13.8 mph). Her range at 15 knots is said to be 4,000 NM.

This cruiser sports more than 500 square feet of living space as well as a sizable flying bridge, which, in addition to an upper helm (there's a lower helm, too), offers areas for lounging and dining. The cockpit is the centerpiece of the 70's entertaining space with 320 square feet of party platform.

There's also a lounge with a bar, and a staircase leads to the galley and guest cabins within the hulls.

Shark Gives Surfer Free Ride

An Australian surfer working the waves accidentally hitched a ride with a shark. Somehow, the ten-foot-long sharp-toothed sea creature (species unknown) got caught up in the line that attached the surfer's ankle to his board. As a result, the toothy critter, now turned tow boat, started dragging the surprised man out to sea, rapidly.

According to a report from the Associated Press, "John Morgan, a 51-year-old surf shop owner from the east coast tourist town of Byron Bay, compared his terrifying 170-foot ride off a local beach to being towed by a jet ski."

Shortly after the unexpected thrill ride started, the shark was freed from the line and disappeared into the depths, the report states.

Guilty (?!)

There are many adjectives that can—and no doubt will—be used to describe Guilty, the 114-foot megayacht of Greek billionaire and art collector, Dakis Joannou. Inconspicuous is not one of them.

Jonnaou commissioned American artist Jeff Koons, he of the towering balloon animal sculptures and basketballs suspended in plexiglass, to design the exterior of his yacht. Though her name comes from a Sarah Morris text painting that hangs in one of her staterooms, Guilty's pattern is, according to Koons, inspired by WWI camouflage patterns. No matter what your opinion of her looks, I'm confident we can all agree that this take takes onboard art to a whole new level...