On November 1, port workers, longshoremen, truckers, and others at the port of Corpus Christi TX are scheduled to enroll in the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, according to information in the Federal Register October 26.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) program requires a background check for anyone who has unescorted access to secure areas of port facilities and vessels. The TWIC credential is valid for five years. The TWIC fee will be $132.50. Workers with current, comparable background checks, including a hazardous materials endorsement on a commercial driver license, Merchant Mariner’s document or Free and Secure Trade (FAST) credential, will pay a discounted fee of $105.25.
Workers at the port of Wilmington DE began to pre-enroll for TWIC October 9. A link to the pre-enrollment Web site will be available online at tsa.gov. Pre-enrolling online speeds up the process by allowing workers to provide biographic information and schedule a time to complete the application process in person. This eliminates waiting at enrollment centers and reduces the time it takes to enroll each individual, TSA said.
Along with the start dates for enrollment at Wilmington and Corpus Christi, TSA and the Coast Guard also announced the next ports that will begin enrolling in November. They are: mid-November, Baton Rouge LA, Beaumont TX, Honolulu HI, Oakland CA, and Tacoma WA; and late November, Chicago/Calumet IL, Houston TX, Port Arthur TX, Providence RI, and Savannah GA.