WASHINGTON, D.C. — The final rules for the US Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) will take effect March 26.

Workers who must have unescorted access to secure port areas, and Coast Guard-credentialed merchant mariners will have until Sept. 25, 2008 to obtain the biometric credential. Implementation of the program will be conducted on a port-by-port basis.

The American Transportation Security Administration (TSA) administers the TWIC program, which involves the rapid, nationwide deployment of biometric identification cards.

Lockheed Martin, recently awarded a contract to provide TWIC services, will enroll and credential approximately 750,000 maritime workers at the nation’s ports within 16 months, with 1.1 million port worker enrollments anticipated by TSA over the five-year contract period of performance.

The TWIC Phase IV program may be expanded beyond the port community to other modes of transportation with a maximum of 6 million credentials to be issued under the Phase IV contract. Workers enrolled through this initial task order will be charged a fee of $137.25.

TSA will remain responsible for security threat assessment for all TWIC IV applicants.