Welcome to Our New Home! (March 2008)

Summit Terminaling Services is pleased to announce the launch of our new and revised Web site. We invite you to send us your feedback, comments or suggestions.

Recent Incidents with Biodiesel (October 2007)

There have been two reported incidents of fires involving biodiesel saturated rags that self-ignited. In the first incident these rags had been used in normal terminal activities such as clean up of gauging equipment saturated rag and was lying in the bed of a pickup truck and started smoldering. The other, in Pennsylvania, occurred when a container of saturated rags in a warehouse self-ignited and caused a fire.

Everyone needs to assess their current situation. Do you have appropriate storage for these rags? Have your employees and third part employees like truck drivers, barge operators, and inspectors been educated about these dangers? Do you have appropriate signage warning about this problem?

TWIC Update (October 2007)

The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Program was established by the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) and is administered by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and U.S. Coast Guard. The final rule was published January 25, 2007. It is intended to be a security measure that will ensure individuals who pose a threat do not gain unescorted access to secure areas of the maritime transportation system.

TWICs are tamper-resistant biometric credentials for workers who require unescorted access to secure areas of ports, vessels, outer continental shelf facilities and all credentialed merchant mariners. It is anticipated that more than 750,000 workers including longshoremen, truckers, port employees and others will be required to obtain a TWIC.

Enrollment and issuance began at the Port of Wilmington, Delaware, October 16, 2007 and will continue through calendar year 2008. To obtain a TWIC, an individual must provide biographic and biometric information such as fingerprints, sit for a digital photograph and successfully pass a security threat assessment conducted by TSA.

The deadline for obtaining TWIC cards in September 25, 2008.

USCG News (August 2007)

The Coast Guard Reauthorization Act of 2007 states that each facility security plan shall provide a system for seamen assigned to a vessel at that facility, pilots, and representatives of seamen's welfare and labor organizations to board and depart the vessel through the facility in a timely manner at no cost to the individual.