Alaska Marine Lines partners with U.S. Immigration to strengthen hiring practices

SEATTLE, April 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Marine Lines is partnering with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to reduce identity fraud and strengthen hiring practices.  

Seattle-based Alaska Marine Lines became an official member of ICE's Mutual Agreement between Government and Employers (IMAGE) this month. IMAGE is a voluntary program that allows private sector businesses to partner with ICE to reduce unauthorized employment and the use of fraudulent identity documents. ICE is the largest investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security.

"We are honored to assist the U.S. government in creating a more stable, secure workforce," says Kevin Anderson, Alaska Marine Lines President. "We take pride in hiring the best employees, and this partnership increases our credibility with the public and our customers. Our customers trust us to ship their freight in a safe and secure manner and participating in this program helps us focus on security as well as superior customer service." 

ICE initiated the IMAGE program in 2006 to combat a rise in undocumented workers presenting false documents to gain employment and benefits and assuming identities of legal U.S. workers. The program provides companies with training on proper hiring procedures, employment screening tools and includes a company-wide audit to ensure current employees are eligible to work in the U.S. More than 100 companies are now members.

"Our IMAGE partnerships enable us to foster best practices in the employment arena and that, in turn, contributes to a safe and productive work environment," says Brad Bench, Special Agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Seattle. "When employers make a proactive commitment to hire and maintain a lawful workforce, it's good for their business and it's good for the community."

Alaska Marine Lines, one of the Lynden family of companies, is a full-service marine transportation company specializing in moving all types of freight to and from Southeast Alaska, Central Alaska, Prince William Sound and northern Canada. It is the only carrier offering both weekly and twice-weekly service to the communities of Southeast Alaska and it offers year-round weekly service to Central Alaska.

The Lynden family of companies offers charter barges, rail barges, truckload and less-than-truckload freight to Alaska, intermodal bulk chemical hauls, scheduled and chartered air freighters, domestic and international shipping via air and ocean forwarding, customs brokerage, remote site construction, sanitary bulk commodities hauling and multi-modal logistics. Lynden companies are repeat winners in the annual Quest for Quality customer service awards presented by Logistics Management magazine.

Contact: David Rosenzweig
Vice President of Marketing and Media
Lynden, www.lynden.com
(206) 439-5527, Email: drosen@lynden.com

SOURCE Lynden