The Department of Homeland Security has announced the issuance of the final rule for the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, which enhances port security by checking the backgrounds of workers before they are granted unescorted access to secure areas of vessels and maritime facilities.
The rule was posted publicly on the Transportation Security Administration’s website this week and has been delivered to the Federal Register for posting in the coming days. For a draft of the final rule, click here. The rule lays out the enrollment process, disqualifying crimes, usage procedures, fees and other requirements for workers, port owners and operators. These guidelines allow the industry, government and public to prepare for the implementation of the security program.
The TSA and the U.S. Coast Guard held four public meetings around the nation and received more than 1,900 comments regarding the initial draft of the federal rule. Comments were filed by workers, port facility owners and operators, small businesses and others who would be affected by the new program. DHS says all comments were considered in the development of the final rule, which is expected to impact more than 750,000 port employees, longshoreman, mariners, truckers and others who require unescorted access to secure areas of ports and vessels.
Specific measures include:
