Security Funding News

Like many ports, the Alaskan Port of Homer faces aging infrastructure and capital needs well beyond the local funding capacity. The port is a key link in the supply chain for 47 remote, rural, disadvantaged or Alaska Native communities served by Homer, making proposed port infrastructure upgrades critical for shipping statewide as well as for the local community.Enter the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, also known as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. This unprecedented…

The Port of Hueneme announced that it will receive more than $307,500 in funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Fiscal Year 2016 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). The funds will provide multi-functional applications protecting critical port and regional infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness, improve port-wide maritime security risk management, and maintain or reestablish maritime security mitigation protocols that support port recovery and resiliency as well as enhance the response capabilities of our regional law enforcement partners. Said President of the Board Dr. Manuel Lopez…

In applauding Congress’ passage late yesterday of the $1.1 trillion Consolidated Appropriation Act of 2014, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) noted that several high priority programs crucial to the safe, efficient and competitive operation of American seaports are included in the appropriations mix. This includes funding for U.S. DOT’s Transportation Infrastructure Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) discretionary grants, U.S. Corps of Engineers’ navigation-related programs…

Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) became the Port of Baltimore newest auto customer after agreeing to a five -year contract with auto processor Amports that will bring approximately 65,000 vehicles a year to Maryland from its assembly plants in Japan. The vehicles will be handled at the Amports-owned Chesapeake Auto Terminal. The addition of Mazda will help to create 450 new jobs, including 160 direct jobs. “We are very happy to welcome Mazda to the Port of Baltimore,” said Transportation Secretary James T. Smith, Jr.

The United Seamen's Service (USS) 2013 Admiral of the Ocean Sea Awards (AOTOS) will be presented to Philip W. J. Fisher, President of Chas. Kurz & Co; U. S. Representative Peter King, Republican of New York; and Emanuel Rouvelas, maritime attorney and partner at K & L Gates. The maritime industry's most prestigious awards will be presented at a gala industry dinner and dance to be held at the Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, New York City, on November 15, 2013. Recognition will also be given to American Seafarers for specific acts of bravery and heroism while at sea. In announcing the recipients, General Kenneth Wykle, USA(ret.), Chairman of the USS AOTOS Committee…

With the release of President Obama’s fiscal 2013 budget, the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) expressed both accolades, and some disappointment, over various aspects of the budget pertaining to ports and the efficient and secure movement of freight. Kurt Nagle, AAPA’s president and CEO, said that, even though the Administration’s budget includes cuts in order to meet the Budget Control Act passed by Congress last year, there are bright spots for seaports, such as a much-needed increase in the portion of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ funding pertaining to deep-draft navigation maintenance, and funding for the Department of Transportation’s budget that pertains to enhancing America’s freight mobility.

U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that Washington State will receive over $30m in federal Homeland Security Grant funding made possible through the Fiscal Year 2009 Homeland Security Appropriations bill. The money will be used to help Washington state communities pay for emergency equipment, strengthen border security, improve their emergency coordination efforts, and prepare for a regional catastrophe. “I worked hard to ensure that Congress maintained its commitment to our local police, firefighters, and emergency managers,” said Senator Patty Murray. “Our state’s first responders face new challenges, as well as familiar existing threats.

April 8, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) announced that Washington state ports will receive $30.3m for port security efforts across the state this year. The funds, which will now begin to be distributed to state ports, will go toward infrastructure security improvements including chemical detectors, cameras, security gates, access controls, and training and exercises. “As we work to stabilize our economy and spur investment in Washington state, it is critically important that our ports remain secure and open for business,” Senator Murray said. The funding for these grants was included in the Fiscal Year 2009 Port Security Grant Program.

With nearly $2m in federal port security funding awarded to New Bedford, Mass., Port officials are expected to purchase a range of security equipment . The Port of New Bedford won two grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Port Security Grant Program. The first grant of $918,256 was awarded in 2007, and the second one of $948,177 was awarded in spring 2008. Neither grant has been released to the city due to a post-award review process related to environmental and historical preservation compliance guidelines, according to FEMA officials and Kristin Decas, executive director of the New Bedford Harbor Development Commission (HDC).

(The following is a statement of Senator Ernest F. On Sunday night, the President announced that the Administration will be looking for an additional $87 billion for Iraq. This would bring the total amount spent there to over $160 billion. This request alone represents three times the amount the President requested for our nation's homeland security efforts this year. I was reluctant to create a Department of Homeland Security, because I felt bureaucratic reshuffling without adequate planning and expertise would detract from our ability to fight terrorism. But we are stuck with what we have, and now the Administration must take the steps necessary to make this bureaucracy work.

The global effort to combat the threat of terrorists using maritime transport to deliver weapons of mass destruction is increasingly compromised by the imposition of under-funded security initiatives on ports and shipping interests, warned Helen Delich Bentley while speaking in Greece October 19. Bentley told an international shipping seminar that new International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) security regulations governing the maritime operations of 162 member states are strikingly similar – in both its regulatory sweep and inadequate level of accompanying funding – to recent Congressional legislation targeting America’s maritime community. “Where’s the money?” said Bentley in addressing the Contribution of Ports in the Regional Development Conference in Patras.

The IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) will host their next conference on Technologies for Homeland Security on April 21st and 22nd of 2004. It will be held at the Volpe National Transportation Systems Center, Auditorium on 55 Broadway, in Cambridge, MA. With the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) and the John A. Volpe National Transportation Systems Center (Volpe Center) as co-organizers for this event, along with top technical, governmental, and industry speakers, conference attendees will gain direct insights into the requirements, technologies, operations and funding for technologies, which protect our critical transportation, aviation and border infrastructures.

Our nation’s ports are an essential component of our economic infrastructure, and they represent one of our greatest vulnerabilities, but the Administration’s budget will weaken our investment in port security. Last week, the President was at the Port of Charleston to talk about seaport and cargo security. It is one thing to give a speech in front of our Coast Guard assets and quite another to actually provide the men and women of the Coast Guard with the tools they need to do their job. This Administration is flirting with disaster with its lack of sustained and serious attention to port security. We cannot allow any port in this country to become a weak link in the security chain.

On December 7, the Senate approved an emergency spending bill for homeland security as part of the Department of Defense FY'02 Appropriations bill. Although Senator Byrd (D-WVA) had to drop his additional funding for homeland security, $50 million for port security was included in the Senate-passed bill. An additional $50 million would be spent in FY '02 on Coast Guard ($12 million); Customs ($15 million), and the Maritime Administration (MARAD) ($23 million); $12 million of this would be for loan guarantees. House/Senate negotiations on the final bill are expected to take place soon. The House version does provide money for Customs and Coast Guard, but does not fund MARAD's programs. On Dec. 13, U.S.

U.S. ports will soon begin applying for $93.3 million in funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to enhance seaport security. The new Port Security Grants program will be administered by the Maritime Association (MARAD) and the U.S. Coast Guard on behalf of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). “We’re very pleased that Congress recognized the tremendous need for Federal help at U.S. seaports and appropriated emergency funding for security enhancements,” said Kurt J. Nagle, president of the American Association of Port Authorities. “While the $93.3 million is a good initial investment, we anticipate that much more will be needed to protect America’s ports from terrorism and other Federal crimes. Seaports are vital to the nation’s economic growth and vitality.

Increased funding for port security in H.R. 3983, the "Maritime Transportation Antiterrorism Act of 2002," was passed the House on June 4. The FY '02 supplemental appropriations bills, which the House has passed and the Senate may vote on this week, also include additional port security funds. "Greater resources are critical for continued improvements in security at our nation's ports," said Kurt J. Nagle, president of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). "We applaud Congress for recognizing this need, and for its investment in helping to secure port facilities from terrorist attacks. H.R. 3983 authorizes $225 million for Federal grants to help ports enhance seaport security, and allows local flexibility to address terrorism at America's ports.

Seaport security grants totaling $92.3 million announced by Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Norman Mineta on June 17 will help provide urgently needed funding to the nation's port authorities for security enhancements. Ninety-five percent of the nation's overseas trade by volume moves through ports. Since September 11, 2001, ports have invested millions of dollars to improve security at marine terminals. The DOT funding will help a number of them conduct port vulnerability assessments, and continue to improve security measures such as personnel (a recurring annual cost), gate and entry controls, surveillance systems, lighting, X-ray equipment, fencing and radiation detection equipment.

As the mandate to secure U.S. waterways continues to evolve, the U.S. Coast Guard and the New Jersey State Marine patrol forged an important partnership which highlights the necessity for cooperation among federal, state and local authorities. Rear Adm. David Pekoske, Commander, First Coast Guard District, Rear Adm. Sally Brice O'Hara, Commander, Fifth Coast Guard District and New Jersey Acting Governor Richard J. Codey formalizes the maritime security partnership last month. The partnership, known as a Memorandum of Agreement, allows Coast Guard law enforcement crews and New Jersey State Marine patrol officers to better work together.

Transport Canada is now accepting applications for the second round of funding under the Marine Security Contribution Program, announced in May 2004. The three-year, $115-million program will help Canada’s ports and marine facilities with the cost of modernizing and strengthening their security systems and programs. The deadline for this second round of applications is June 15, 2005. The distribution of funds under this program is one of the ways the Government of Canada is working with industry to keep marine facilities secure and open to trade. On March 15, 2005, close to $24 million in funding for 69 ports and marine facilities across the country was announced under the program’s first round of funding.

Governor Schwarzenegger joins Admiral Kevin J. Eldridge, USCG, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District and Matt Bettenhausen, Director, Office of Homeland Security, State of California, onboard a UTB-41 Coast Guard boat to observe coast guard port security drills. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a $5 million grant to improve port security at 11 of California's ports during a visit to the San Diego Coast Guard Joint Operations Center. "In California, we have many threat targets, including large urban areas, mass transit, railways, and international icons like the Golden Gate Bridge," said Gov. Schwarzenegger. California's ports bring in 43 percent of the nation's cargo containers.

At a news conference beginning at the National Press Club, the top two leaders representing public port authorities in the United States will respond to the Bush Administration’s recommended appropriation levels for the Department of Homeland Security’s Port Security Grant program and the portion of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Civil Works program that provides crucial navigation access to ports. Representing the American Association of Port Authorities will be Kurt Nagle, president and CEO of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA), and Warren McCrimmon, president and CEO of Ohio’s Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, who also serves as AAPA’s U.S. Delegation chairman.

In the nearly five years since 9/11, America’s seaports and the federal government have joined forces to make major gains in fortifying and hardening port facilities against intruder attack. “Public port authorities have made seaport security their top priority since September 11, 2001,” said Kurt Nagle, American Association of Port Authorities’ president and CEO. With the combined efforts of public ports, initiatives of federal agencies within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) such as the U.S. Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), ports are significantly safer now than prior to 9/11, he noted. “Ports are a vital part of our nation’s transportation infrastructure and serve as international borders to nearly all U.S. overseas trade,” said Mr. Nagle.

Senate Republicans and Democrats together boosted funding for border and port security in the fiscal 2007 Homeland Security appropriations bill by almost $1b, but were bitterly divided over how to restructure the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Senators agreed to two amendments by Senate Appropriations ranking member Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., that would provide $350m extra for border security and $648m more for port and cargo security. But several senators clashed on the floor over restructuring FEMA. In the end, an amendment by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, and ranking member Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., to transform FEMA but keep it within the department was approved on an 87-11 vote. The amendment, which had strong backing from Sen.