Long Island Maritime Workers Begin Enrollment for Federal Port Security Credential
July 24, 2008
TSA, Lara Uselding: (917) 623-0337
U.S. Coast Guard Public Affairs, Rodger Guest: (203) 468-4461
Sea Tow, Emily Corman: (631) 765-3660 x3136
SOUTHOLD, N.Y. – Today, port and longshore workers, truckers and others operating within Long Island Sound and the nearby area will begin to enroll in the Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program. The program's goal is to ensure 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 security threat.
"The start of enrollment here is one more step in our effort to prevent persons who are a threat from gaining access to secure areas of port facilities," said Maurine Fanguy, TWIC program director for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). "We appreciate the support of our partners in Long Island for helping to make one of the world's most advanced interoperable biometric systems a reality."
"As a private organization in the marine industry, we recognize the importance of the TWIC program as it relates to our country's security," said Capt. Joe Frohnhoefer, CEO of Sea Tow Services International. "There are a significant number of marine, transportation and secure facilities on the East End of Long Island. Having a TWIC enrollment center in Southold allows individuals who transit the region to obtain their TWIC card quickly and easily."
More than 140 ports have begun enrollment in the nationwide program. Ultimately, the program will be rolled out to 147 enrollment centers and will vet more than 1.2 million maritime transportation system workers through April 2009.
"TWIC is a crucial part of our multi-layered risk-based approach to maritime security," said Captain Dan Ronan, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Long Island Sound. "It will strengthen security at the ports and maritime-related facilities and vessels like the ones located here on Long Island."
Workers are able to pre-enroll for TWIC online at www.tsa.gov/twic or the Coast Guard's Homeport site, http://homeport.uscg.mil. Pre-enrolling 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.
The TWIC enrollment centers available in the Long Island area are:
July 24, 2008TWIC Enrollment Center
Sea Tow Services International Building
700 Hummel Ave.
Southold, NY 11971
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
July 28, 2008
TWIC Enrollment Center – Port of Coram
2752 Middle Country Rd
Lake Grove, NY 11755-2102
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
July 30, 2008
TWIC Enrollment Center
178 West Hoffman Ave Lindenhurst, NY 11757
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
