Port receives $1 million grant

The Greater Lafourche Port Commission and four other entities in the Port Fourchon area will share $1 million in grant funding to establish a more efficient and technologically sound security program.

The Department of Homeland Security awarded the funds, which will be used to improve facilities in order to implement the Transportation Worker’s Identification Card program.

The GLPC, which will administer the funds, will share the award with port tenants Louisiana Offshore Oil Port, Cal Dive International, InterMoor and John W. Stone Oil Distributors.

“After sticking with us through the tough times of the oil spill and drilling moratorium, our tenants deserve it,” Port Commission President Larry Griffin said. “Getting grant money for TWIC is going to enhance security and make following regulations easier for all of us.”

Every company that completed the application process was awarded 100 percent funding, the port commission said.

The TWIC card is a nationally endorsed identification credential. Funding to join the program was offered to tenants who qualify as secure marine facilities that must follow U.S. Coast Guard security rules, including access by credentialed personnel only, the port commission said.

Port Fourchon Harbor Police will benefit from the GLPC share and purchase TWIC readers, something Chief Jon Callais said will be valuable when tenants return to the port post-evacuation.

“Hand-held TWIC card readers will allow Harbor Police to more easily monitor port entry checkpoints, especially during post-hurricane re-entry,” Callais said. “Having port workers use their TWIC cards, which most port personnel are expected to carry, will help streamline our security process.”

The project will also expand network connectivity between the port and participating facilities. The port will be able to gather data from the TWIC database, share security information with participating facilities and install card reader equipment that tests a card’s validity.