TWIC Enrollment Begins at Memphis Port

The Port of Memphis 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. Nationwide, more than 1 million workers with unescorted access to secure areas will apply for TWIC during the remainder of 2007 and next year. Memphis is among the first 40 ports to begin enrollment in the nationwide program. Ultimately, fixed enrollment centers will be in place at 147 ports along with mobile enrollment centers at dozens of other locations as needed. Workers at the Port of Memphis 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 each individual. The enrollment center is located at 3865 Viscount Ave., Suite 2, Memphis Tenn. 38118. The hours of operation are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.