JUNEAU, Alaska — Alaska’s Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC) Enrollment Centers have extended their hours of operations through Feb. 27 to accommodate enrollments and activations as deadlines approach.
Workers in Alaska’s ports will be required to have a TWIC on Feb. 12 if they access secure or restricted areas at facilities regulated by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002.
In addition to port workers, mariners holding U.S. Coast Guard licenses or merchant mariners documents are required to obtain a TWIC by April 15, 2009.
In Alaska, 9,325 or 92% of an estimated 10,100 port workers and mariners have already enrolled and about 75 percent of applicants have received their TWIC.
Current applicant numbers by enrollment centers:
- Anchorage: 4,486 enrolled; 3,243 or 72 percent activated
- Juneau: 2,206 enrolled; 1,630 or 74 percent activated
- Nikiski: 1,463 enrolled; 1,132 or 77 percent activated
- Valdez: 1,170 enrolled; 1,045 or 89 percent activated
Applications for TWIC cards can be completed in person at one of four enrollment centers throughout the state.
619 E Ship Creek Ave.
Anchorage, AK 99501
Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Juneau TWIC Enrollment Center
3200 Hospital Drive, Suite 202
Juneau, AK 99801
Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Nikiski TWIC Enrollment Center
50097 Kenai Spur Hwy
Nikiski, AK 99635
Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Valdez TWIC Enrollment Center
501 E Bremner St.
Valdez, AK 99686
Monday – Friday: 7:00 AM – 7:00 PM
TWIC is a common identification credential which is tamper-resistant and contains the worker’s biometric (fingerprint template) to allow for a positive link between the card and the individual. Nationwide, an estimated 1 million workers in the maritime transportation industry will be required to obtain these cards. This includes all Coast Guard credentialed merchant mariners and many longshoremen, truck drivers, and port facility employees.
The card is an effort by the federal government to improve security in the nation’s ports and the program is being instituted by the Transportation Security Administration, but the Coast Guard will be responsible for enforcement.
The application process can be expedited by entering the required information online at https://twicprogram.tsa.dhs.gov prior to visiting the office. As part of the application process, applicants will be subject to a security background check. The fee for the card is $132.50 and the credential is valid for five years.
Applicants may visit www.twicinformation.com or call 866-347-8942 for more information about TWIC.
