Port of Houston Authority Enrolls TWIC Cardholders with Datastrip and Codebench Card Reader

The Port of Houston Authority has enrolled TWIC cardholders with Datastrip and Codebench card reader solutions.

The Port of Houston Authority (PHA) successfully implemented the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program by harnessing a handheld card reader technology solution from Datastrip and Codebench Inc. Using Datastrip’s DSV2+TURBO®with Codebench’s PIVCheck Plus software, PHA has enrolled close to 7,000 TWIC cardholders in the Houston area to date.

To comply with federal TWIC guidelines, all longshoremen, truckers, steamship line personnel, stevedores and vendors requiring access to PHA restricted areas must carry a TWIC card. To meet the April 15 compliance deadline, PHA initiated an aggressive outreach program through which authorities visited trucking companies to remotely enroll drivers using Datastrip’s mobile readers.

PIVCheck Certificate Manager

Once back at the port, the data was transmitted from the handheld devices to the port’s existing AMAG Symmetry physical access control system (PACS). The PIVCheck Certificate Manager software checks cardholder data against the TSA hotlist twice daily and notifies PHA if a cardholder appears on the list. The U.S. Coast Guard will use the Datastrip card readers and PIVCheck software to confirm the identity of TWIC cardholders during regular inspections as well as random spot checks.

Additionally, Codebench’s PIVCheck Plus software has been installed in four of the port’s desktop computers so that TWIC cards can be registered on-site.

Port Security Software

“The Port of Houston Authority’s top priority is to maintain a secure port that ensures individuals who pose a threat do not gain access to secure areas of the nation’s maritime transportation system,” said Bill Crews, port security and emergency operations manager at PHA. “The Datastrip-Codebench TWIC solution allowed us to enroll thousands of transportation workers into our existing access control system in a timely manner in order to take full advantage of the increased security layer offered by the TWIC process.”

The field-proven DSV2+TURBOmeets government standards, attesting to its rugged durability. The unit is weather-resistant to the elements, as well as drop-resistant to withstand freefalls. When integrated with Codebench’s PIVCheck Plus software, the DSV2+TURBOprovides a critical link between the TWIC card and a port’s PACS, allowing users to quickly validate and manage credentials.