A Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is a federal ID card issued by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The purpose of a TWIC card is to give authorized workers access to secure areas of the nation’s maritime facilities. The card is aligned with government standards for federal employee, service member, and contractor smart card credentials. Anyone with unescorted access to a secure area at an MTSA-regulated facility, vessel, or outer continental shelf (OCS) facility must have a TWIC. The card contains an Integrated Circuit Chip (ICC) that holds biographic and biometric information, and which can be read by inserting into a reader or holding in front of a contactless reader.