LAFAYETTE, LA--(MARKET WIRE)--Jul 15, 2008 -- Port and longshore workers, truckers and others at the Port of Lafayette are now able 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 in Lafayette 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).

Approximately 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.

The TWIC enrollment center is located at 1300 N. Bertrand Dr., Suite 306, Lafayette, LA 70506. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

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.

Workers are now able to enroll for TWIC at eight Louisiana ports: Baton Rouge, Houma, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Morgan City, New Orleans, Port Fourchon and South Louisiana.

For more information about TSA, please visit our Web site at www.tsa.gov.