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Here's some recent news for you about the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, specifically regarding one particular section¹ in the news:

The Department of Homeland Security will begin checking the names of about 400,000 longshoremen and employees of port facilities against federal terrorist watch lists, the agency announced Tuesday--six weeks after an Arab company's thwarted efforts to work in U.S. ports heightened concern about who should be allowed on American docks.
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In announcing the interim name checks Tuesday, Homeland Security officials described them as a step toward more thorough reviews and the eventual rollout of an identification card. A 2002 federal law mandated such cards, as well as background checks, for all airport, port, rail and pipeline workers after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
Source: Tribune Newspapers (must be excerpted)

Here is the relevant section of the statute:

‘‘§ 70105. Transportation security cards
‘‘(a) PROHIBITION.—(1) The Secretary shall prescribe regulations to prevent an individual from entering an area of a vessel or facility that is designated as a secure area by the Secretary for purposes of a security plan for the vessel or facility that is approved by the Secretary under section 70103 of this title unless the individual—

‘‘(A) holds a transportation security card issued under this section and is authorized to be in the area in accordance with the plan; or
‘‘(B) is accompanied by another individual who holds a transportation security card issued under this section and is authorized to be in the area in accordance with the plan.

Boy, the U.N. and those other international agencies really mucked-up our business! O where, o where has our sovereignty gone?

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¹46 U.S.C. 70105, (.pdf)

There will be a requirement for crew members on vessels visiting US ports to hold an identification card acceptable to the U.S. Coast Guard. The ILO and IMO are currently jointly developing an international seafarer's identification document which it is hoped will meet this requirement.

Last time I looked the ILO and IMO are subsidiaries of the UN, or is that recent news to you?

How about this news?

Vessel and facility security plans must be submitted to the Secretary not more than six months after the promulgation of an interim final regulation on the subject. (Such an interim final regulation is likely to be promulgated by the Coast Guard in Spring 2003). The security plans must also include provisions for establishing and maintaining physical, passenger and cargo security, controlling access, and outlining training programs to protect a vessel or facility. The Secretary will then be required to approve the plans and provide appropriate feedback. It is our belief that the Coast Guard’s review of the plans, as well as the interim final rule, will be based on the IMO rules to be approved in December 2002 and the recent Coast Guard Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 10-02 that we forwarded to Members on October 25th.