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Program Information

Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC™)

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Latest News!

Update as of November 5: On Oct. 21, the government facility that houses the TWIC system experienced a building-wide power outage. Though power was quickly restored, the part of the system that facilitates card activations was affected. TWIC program enrollment and pre-enrollments are still available nationwide, and we encourage workers to enroll for your TWIC.

Activations have been resumed for workers in the Oct. 15 compliance grouping (Captain of the Port Zones Northern New England, Boston, and Southeastern New England) (click here). Effective immediately (Nov. 5), walk-ins for activations are available at the Nov. 28 and Dec. 1 compliance ports. (click here). Appointments at the Nov. 28 and Dec. 1 compliance date ports will be available Monday, Nov. 10.

Additionally, activation appointments and walk-ins will be available at enrollment centers within the December 30 compliance group (Captain of the Port Zones Baltimore, Delaware Bay, Mobile, Pittsburgh, Ohio Valley, Lower Mississippi River and San Diego) beginning Monday, Nov.10, 2008. Activations for all other ports will be available nationwide later in November.

Note: As a result of rescheduling activations, the compliance date for workers located in the Captain of the Port Zones Buffalo, Detroit, Lake Michigan, Sault Ste. Marie and Duluth (click here for specific ports) has been moved from Oct. 31 to Dec. 1, 2008.

We will provide updates with more information as it becomes available on our Web site, as well as through our help desk, 1-866-DHS-TWIC.

Click here for activation system Q & As

• Week of 10/27: Click here to find a specific enrollment center location. Click here for information on enrollment center closings due to Hurricane Ike.
• When do I need my TWIC? Click here
• Click here for the latest information on the national compliance framework for the TWIC program.
• Click here for the latest press release announcing a compliance date of April 14, 2009 for owners and operators of facilities located within the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Zones of Houston-Galveston, Texas, Los Angeles-Long Beach, Calif., San Juan, Puerto Rico and Guam. Additionally, the compliance date for U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Zone Port Arthur, Texas, has been extended until April 14, 2009, from the original compliance date of Nov. 28, 2008. This extension was granted due to disruption of enrollment and port activities in the wake of Hurricane Ike.
• The TWIC Help Desk can now be contacted via email. Click here to send along your inquiry or issue.
• Click here for an 'Informational Bulletin' in response to a number of inquiries concerning TWIC requirements and the comparability between TWIC and Hazardous Materials Endorsement (HME).
• The TWIC Disclosure and Certification Form has recently been revised and translated into 13 languages. Click here for more information.

The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) is a vital security measure that will ensure individuals who pose a threat do not gain unescorted access to secure areas of the nation's maritime transportation system.

TWIC was established by Congress through the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) and is administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Coast Guard. TWICs are tamper-resistant biometric credentials that will be issued to workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of ports, vessels, outer continental shelf facilities and all credentialed merchant mariners. It is anticipated that more than 1 million workers including longshoremen, truckers, port employees and others will be required to obtain a TWIC.

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Enrollment and issuance began at the Port of Wilmington, Delaware October 16, 2007 and will continue through calendar year 2008 and part of 2009. To obtain a TWIC, an individual must provide biographic and biometric information such as fingerprints, sit for a digital photograph and successfully pass a security threat assessment conducted by TSA. Pre-enrollment is recommended as it is designed to save the applicant time by enabling them to provide their biographical information and make an appointment for in-person enrollment.

Currently, there are no regulatory requirements pertaining to the use of TWIC readers. However, initial testing and evaluation of TWIC readers is will begin in calendar year 2008 as part of our pilot phase. Click here to learn more about the TWIC reader pilot activities.