TWIC Biometric Port Security in 10 More Ports

The Department of Homeland Security(DHS) today announced that enrollment in the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program will begin at 10 more locations in the coming weeks. This program ensures that any individual who has unescorted access to secure areas of port facilities and vessels has received a thorough background check and is not a known security threat.

TWIC enrollment began Oct. 16, 2007 at the Port of Wilmington, Del. The addition of these 10 locations will bring the number of fixed enrollment centers open for enrollment to 59. Ultimately, the program will be rolled out to 147 fixed enrollment sites and will vet more than 1 million workers through 2008.

"TWIC is one of the world's most advanced interoperable biometric systems and raises the bar on port security," said the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Maurine Fanguy, program director for TWIC. "We are off to a strong start with thousands of workers enrolled and credentials issued."

Today, the TSA released specific dates for the following ports:

Victoria, Texas
Kahului, Hawaii
Portland, Ore.
Bourne, Mass.
Green Bay, Wis.

Jan. 16, 2008
Jan. 17, 2008
Jan. 17, 2008
Jan. 23, 2008
Jan. 23, 2008

Pittsburgh, Pa.
Texas City, Texas
Kauai, Hawaii
Salisbury, Md.
Toledo, Ohio

Jan. 24, 2008
Jan. 24, 2008
Jan. 25, 2008
Jan. 30, 2008
Jan. 30, 2008

Workers at these ports, as well as another 49 where enrollment has begun, are able to pre-enroll for TWIC on the TSA Web site (www.tsa.gov/twic). Pre-enrollment speeds up the process by allowing workers to provide biographic information and schedule a time to complete the application process in person. This reduces waiting and in-person enrollment times for each individual.

More information on the TWIC program is available at www.tsa.gov/twic and additional information on port security is available at the U.S. Coast Guard's Homeport site at http://homeport.uscg.mil by clicking on the Maritime Security link.