Port Security

USCG Issues Port Security Guidelines

The U.S. Coast Guard issued Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 9-02 entitled Guidelines for Port Security Committees and Port Security Plans Required for U.S. Ports Building on its Maritime Homeland Security Mission, the Coast Guard Headquarters has advised its field units on how to structure the Port Security Committees and how to develop Port Security Plans. By February 28, 2003, each Captain of the Port (COTP) is to conduct a preliminary port level security assessment in conjunction with the Port Security Committee. The assessment will provide the basis for finalizing the Port Security Plan. Source: HK Law

NE Florida Port Security Committees

The U.S. Coast Guard issued a Press Release stating that agreements will be signed on October 21, 2003 formalizing two local port security committees for northeast Florida ports. The port security committees will develop Area Maritime Security Plans and conduct large-scale exercises relating to maritime security. Source: HK Law

DHS Port Security Grants

The President’s FY 2005 request includes $46 million in port security grants to be administered by the Office of Domestic Preparedness. The Maritime Transportation Security Act authorizes the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the Maritime Administrator, to make port security grants to port authorities, facility operators, and state and local governments. These grants may be used to correct vulnerabilities in port security and ensure compliance with Area Maritime Transportation

Port Security: There's More to it Than Containers

Most port security discussions focus on a single challenge -- how to monitor container-ship cargos to ensure that exotic weapons -- nuclear, chemical or biological -- do not enter the United States. But that issue, while important, is only one of many in port security. Although compelling, it ignores the more basic fact that ports themselves are complex systems -- and like all complex systems, they are vulnerable to

10 Years After 9/11, Security Still a Top Priority of U.S. Ports

AAPA Concerned Federal Budget Cuts May Impact Port Security Progress. Port and industry leaders from throughout the Western Hemisphere will pause on Sunday, Sept. 11, as part of the 100th Annual Convention of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) in Seattle (Sept. 11-15), to remember those tragically lost in the terrorist attacks on U.S. soil 10 years ago.  Among those lost were 84 industry colleagues from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey who perished at the

Puget Sound Ports Awarded $4.12M in Grants

The Ports of Seattle and Tacoma have received a combined $4.12 million award in port security grants through the Urban Area Security Initiative of the Office for Domestic Preparedness (ODP). In separate funding announced Thursday, June 12, the two ports received a combined $18.63 million for Operation Safe Commerce (OSC) and through the Transportation Security Administration's Port Security Grant Program. The $4.12 million ODP award boosts recent port facilities and cargo security grants

Senate Approves Major Port Security Bill

In late December, the United States Senate approved a 95-page bill to enhance security at our nation's ports. Action on counterpart legislation in the House may take place in a few weeks. S. 1214 is entitled the "Port and Maritime Security Act of 2001." Its primary sponsor is Senator Hollings of South Carolina. Provisions of interest include: (1) a private sector advisory committee to help the U.S. Secretary of Transportation address port and maritime security issues; (2) security

USCG Port Security Advisory

The U.S. Coast Guard issued an updated Port Security Advisory. The advisory lists nations that have failed to communicate to the IMO or the USCG all required information regarding port facility security compliance. The nations listed in this Advisory are: Albania, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Madagascar, Mauritania, and Nauru. In a change from the previous advisory, Equatorial Guinea has been removed from the list

Ports to Get $168m in Security Grants

The Department of Homeland Security released its summary of the FY2006 Infrastructure Grant Programs. Included therein is an allocation of $168m for port security grants. The port security grants will be made for specific projects at 101 eligible ports (which together handle 95% of the nation’s foreign waterborne commerce). Public sector applicants must provide at least 25% of the total project cost, while private sector applicants must provide at least 50% of the total project cost

AAPA Urges Greater Support for Security

Significantly more federal funding assistance is urgently needed for U.S. port security, testified port industry witness Noel Cunningham today at a hearing of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. Representing the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) and the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Cunningham is Director of Operations and Emergency Management of the Port of Los Angeles, the largest container port in the U.S