APL and law enforcement officials including the FBI successfully tested anti-terrorism capabilities at the shipping line’s Seattle, Washington marine terminal. It was the seventh full-scale security exercise conducted by the global container carrier in the past six years. The day-long drill involved 200 people with representatives from the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, port police and fire department. All helped evaluate APL’s collaboration with the public sector in combating threats to the supply chain. APL invited competing terminal operators as observers.
“The cooperation we received from law enforcement was outstanding and the exercise was useful in showing us what works and what needs to be improved on,” said Earl Agron, Vice President of Security at NOL Group, APL’s parent company. “Every time we go through one of these exercises, we become that much more effective in mitigating security risk and improving resilience.”
The event was based on a live simulation. It began with a warning to the FBI about a suspicious device aboard a vessel in port. APL summoned federal investigators and local public safety officials who took charge of the exercise. The test included:
· A complete vessel search;
· Radioactive screening of cargo containers;
· The evacuation of terminal personnel and equipment; and
· Communications between APL, law enforcement and the carrier’s customers.
This was the second full-day security exercise conducted by APL in Seattle since 2006. Others have been held in Singapore; Yokohama; Los Angeles; Oakland, California; and Kaohsiung, Taiwan.