Post by HardTimeTrucker on Aug 26, 2008 14:53:47 GMT -5
DATE: August 26, 2008 13:02:27 EST
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard
News Release Date: Aug. 26, 2008
Contact: Lisa Novak
(202) 372-4633
Coast Guard updates Transportation Worker Identification Credential Program compliance date, locations
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration announced today that Dec. 30, 2008, is the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program compliance date for owners and operators of facilities located within the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Zones of Baltimore, Md., Delaware Bay, Mobile, Ala., Lower Mississippi River, Ohio Valley, Pittsburgh, Pa., and San Diego, Calif.
Ports affected by the Dec. 30, 2008, deadline include, among others, Annapolis, Md., Philadelphia, Pa., Camden, N.J., Gulfport, Miss., Memphis, Tenn., Cincinnati, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Pa., and San Diego, Calif.
The Coast Guard plans to announce those additional ports scheduled for the compliance phase of the TWIC Program in coming weeks. Compliance will be phased in by Captain of the Port Zones between Oct. 15, 2008, and April 15, 2009, after which all ports must be in compliance and all credentialed mariners must be in possession of a TWIC card.
A framework showing expected compliance dates by Captain of the Port Zone and related information is available on the U.S. Coast Guard's Homeport Web site at homeport.uscg.mil/twic.
"Beginning compliance is one more step in our effort to prevent persons who are a threat from gaining access to secure areas of port facilities," sait TWIC Program Director Maurine Fanguy of the Transportation Security Administration. "We encourage workers to enroll as soon as possible to ensure their cards are in hand in the coming months."
Mariners may use their valid Coast Guard-issued merchant mariner's document, license or certificate of registry and a valid photo ID to be eligible for unescorted access in secure areas of any facility regulated under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 that has a TWIC compliance date earlier than April 15, 2009. Also, owners and operators of vessels and outer continental shelf facilities must implement access control procedures using TWIC by April 15, 2009.
Owners and operators of facilities regulated under MTSA are responsible for notifying employees of their personal responsibility to apply for and maintain a TWIC. The TWIC final rule, published Jan. 25, 2007, also requires owners and operators of MTSA regulated facilities to inform employees of the deadlines and methods for TWIC application.
TWIC was established in the Maritime Transportation Security Act and the Security and Accountability for Every 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 progressing steadily and had opened 147 fixed enrollment centers and dozens of mobile sites nationwide. More than 454,000 workers have enrolled to date and thousands more are processed each week.
Additional information can be found at www.tsa.gov/twic.
Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History. Powerful Future.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard
News Release Date: Aug. 26, 2008
Contact: Lisa Novak
(202) 372-4633
Coast Guard updates Transportation Worker Identification Credential Program compliance date, locations
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration announced today that Dec. 30, 2008, is the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program compliance date for owners and operators of facilities located within the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Zones of Baltimore, Md., Delaware Bay, Mobile, Ala., Lower Mississippi River, Ohio Valley, Pittsburgh, Pa., and San Diego, Calif.
Ports affected by the Dec. 30, 2008, deadline include, among others, Annapolis, Md., Philadelphia, Pa., Camden, N.J., Gulfport, Miss., Memphis, Tenn., Cincinnati, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Pa., and San Diego, Calif.
The Coast Guard plans to announce those additional ports scheduled for the compliance phase of the TWIC Program in coming weeks. Compliance will be phased in by Captain of the Port Zones between Oct. 15, 2008, and April 15, 2009, after which all ports must be in compliance and all credentialed mariners must be in possession of a TWIC card.
A framework showing expected compliance dates by Captain of the Port Zone and related information is available on the U.S. Coast Guard's Homeport Web site at homeport.uscg.mil/twic.
"Beginning compliance is one more step in our effort to prevent persons who are a threat from gaining access to secure areas of port facilities," sait TWIC Program Director Maurine Fanguy of the Transportation Security Administration. "We encourage workers to enroll as soon as possible to ensure their cards are in hand in the coming months."
Mariners may use their valid Coast Guard-issued merchant mariner's document, license or certificate of registry and a valid photo ID to be eligible for unescorted access in secure areas of any facility regulated under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 that has a TWIC compliance date earlier than April 15, 2009. Also, owners and operators of vessels and outer continental shelf facilities must implement access control procedures using TWIC by April 15, 2009.
Owners and operators of facilities regulated under MTSA are responsible for notifying employees of their personal responsibility to apply for and maintain a TWIC. The TWIC final rule, published Jan. 25, 2007, also requires owners and operators of MTSA regulated facilities to inform employees of the deadlines and methods for TWIC application.
TWIC was established in the Maritime Transportation Security Act and the Security and Accountability for Every 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 progressing steadily and had opened 147 fixed enrollment centers and dozens of mobile sites nationwide. More than 454,000 workers have enrolled to date and thousands more are processed each week.
Additional information can be found at www.tsa.gov/twic.
Saving Lives and Guarding the Coast Since 1790.
The United States Coast Guard -- Proud History. Powerful Future.