The final compliance date for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program has been extended to April 15, 2009, according to information from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
This seven-month extension from Sept. 25, 2008, is a direct result of collaboration with port officials and industry, and realigns the enrollment period with the original intent of the TWIC final rule, DHS said.
TWIC was established in the Maritime Transportation Security Act and the SAFE Port Act to serve as an identification program for all Coast Guard credentialed mariners and personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas within a port. The program is on track to complete enrollment for a substantial number of jurisdictions by the end of 2008, and several ports will be required to comply with TWIC regulations this year, DHS said.
Owners and operators of facilities located within Captain of the Port Zones Boston, Northern New England, and Southeastern New England will need to comply by Oct. 15, 2008. These three ports were selected based on favorable conditions that facilitate near-term implementation. DHS said those ports are ideal for initial compliance based upon geographic proximity, the size of their TWIC enrollment population, and respective enrollment efforts to date. More ports will be announced in the coming weeks, and the Coast Guard will provide at least 90 days notice prior to enforcement.
The TWIC program has opened more than 100 fixed enrollment centers and dozens of mobile sites nationwide. More than 250,000 workers have enrolled to date and thousands more are processed each week.
Workers can pre-enroll online at www.tsa.gov/twic.
More information can be found at www.homeport.uscg.mil.