Friday, May 22, 2009

Re: TWIC Alert – Entire Port of Wilmington Designated
a Secure/Restricted Area

As you know, when TWIC compliance began on December 30, 2008, the Port of Wilmington attempted to change the designation of some areas of the port from Secure / Restricted to Secure / Unrestricted. The Coast Guard granted our request that interim security measures be employed, with the hope that this would help ensure the movement of cargo through the port and prevent any disruption to commerce. Moving forward and with the fruit season behind us, we must now look toward putting a permanent plan in place that addresses all facets of the TWIC Final Rule.

After many meetings with the Coast Guard, it has been decided that the Port of Wilmington will revert to the original designation as an entirely Secure/Restricted area. Effective June 2, 2009 the Port of Wilmington will become an entirely Secure / Restricted area and the following will take place:

·         All persons requiring frequent, unescorted, access to Secure/Restricted Areas of the facility must have a TWIC. This includes, but is not limited to, the following:

o        Longshoremen

o        Drayage truckers

o        DSPC employees

o        Truckers bringing cargo onto or picking cargo up at a facility

o        Surveyors

o        Agents

o        Chandlers

o        Port Chaplains

o        Casual laborers who frequently access Secure Areas

• For those persons requiring infrequent, escorted, access to Secure/Restricted Areas (truckers, delivery persons, etc.) the following requirements apply:

o        Truckers require 1 to 1, escort, with escort leading the driver.

o        Escorting of visitors, etc. in the Secure / Restricted area (entire port) are limited to no more than five non-TWIC holders being escorted by one TWIC holder.

o        Per Coast Guard NVIC 03-07, the escorting provision does not pertain to longshoremen and they must obtain a TWIC. 

• On June 2^nd a guard will no longer be stationed on Gist Road.

• On June 2^nd the fences at berths 5 ½ and berth 7 will be removed.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation,