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Port Security Program News

23 Jul 2019

Workshop on Maritime Security in S.Pacific

International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the South Pacific Community, in collaboration with the Government of Vanuatu, are holding a Regional Maritime Security Workshop in Port Vila, Vanuatu (22-25 July). "Good maritime and port security is the enabler for maritime and economic development through maritime trade. It can be taken for granted when it works, but maintaining good security is essential," said the UN body.The workshop coincides with IMO Secretary General Kitack Lim's visit to Vanuatu, Fiji and Australia - the first time an IMO Secretary General visits the South Pacific.The regional workshop brings together Heads of Designated…

30 Jun 2017

Port Co-operation, Maritime Security Meet of Argentina

A regional workshop focusing on this year’s World Maritime Day theme - Connecting Ships, Ports and People – has been held in Buenos Aires, Argentina (26-29 June). The event, organized by International Maritime Organization (IMO) in collaboration with the Argentine Maritime Authority (Prefectura Naval Argentina), aimed to promote cooperation between ports and designated authorities of participating countries through an open discussion and by sharing experiences and best practices related to maritime security. The workshop also reviewed the implementation of maritime security in the region and evaluating new or evolving threats. Specific subjects addressed included the establishment of national maritime security committees…

07 Jun 2016

US, Singapore Partner to Improve Port Security

Cmdr. Bryson Spangler (far left) and Lt. Cmdr. Rod Adams (3rd from left) with representatives from the Maritime and Port Authority and Universal Terminals PT Ltd. during a bilateral engagement with Singapore officials. (U.S. Coast Guard photo courtesy Activities Far East)

A U.S. Coast Guard International Port Security team completed a bilateral engagement with the Republic of Singapore officials in May. This engagement involved sharing best practices and visiting with representatives from the Maritime and Port Authority to observe the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code at two port facilities in Singapore: Marina Bay Cruise Center and Universal Terminals PTE Ltd. “Everyone has security responsibilities in our global economy,” said Cmdr. Bryson Spangler, ISPS Program liaison officer, U.S.

18 May 2016

US, Malaysia Bolster Port Security Partnership

Lt. Cmdr. Carlos Gavilanes (Far Right/Light Blue Shirt), Lt. Cmdr. Kevin Beaudoin (Brown Shirt), Lt. Alejandro Collazo (Light Blue Shirt/Hand Gesture) and Mr. Tivo Romero (Aloha Shirt). (Photo courtesy Penang Port Sdn Bhd.)

A U.S. Coast Guard International Port Security team completed a bilateral engagement with Malaysian officials in April. This engagement involved sharing best practices and visiting with the Ministry of Infrastructure Marine and Ports Division to observe the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code at three port facilities: Northport, Port Klang and two port facilities in Penang; Swettenham Cruise Terminal and North Butterworth Container Terminal.

30 Mar 2016

US, Japan Partner to Improve Port Security

A U.S. Coast Guard International Port Security team meets with Japanese officials. The engagement involved sharing best practices and visiting with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s Ports and Harbors Bureau to observe the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code at two port facilities in Hakata, Japan: the Hakata Chuo passenger wharf and the Hakata island city area container terminal. (U.S. Coast Guard photo by Activities Far East)

A U.S. Coast Guard International Port Security team completed a bilateral engagement with Japanese officials during the second week of March. The engagement involved sharing best practices and visiting with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism’s Ports and Harbors Bureau to observe the implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code at two port facilities in Hakata, Japan: the Hakata Chuo passenger wharf and the Hakata island city area container terminal. “Everyone has security responsibilities in our global economy.

08 Jun 2015

Congressional Leaders Visit Port of Houston

The delegation learned more about the Houston Ship Channel aboard one of the Port of Houston Authority's three Emergency Response Vessels. The group also saw the Port Authority's four new Super Post-Panamax Ship-to-Shore cranes at the Barbours Cut Container Terminal. (Photo: Port of Houston Authority)

The Port of Houston Authority hosted Congressional leaders on port matters for a facilitated visit and tour of the Port of Houston, Friday, June 5. Congresswoman Janice Hahn, Congressman Ted Poe and Congressman Brian Babin visited the Port of Houston and learned more about the national impact of the Port of Houston overall and in particular its safety and security measures. The visit was arranged upon the invitation of Congressman Poe, who along with Congresswoman Hahn co-chair the PORTS Caucus, which represents more than 100 ports across the nation.

15 Jun 2011

ADM Papp Testifies on U.S. Coast Guard Security Capabilities

ADM Robert J. Subcommittee. capabilities. For more than 220 years, the U.S. Coast Guard has safeguarded the nation’s maritime interests and natural resources on our rivers and ports, in the coastal regions, on the high seas, and around the world. The Coast Guard saves those in peril and protects the nation’s maritime border, marine transportation system, natural resources, and the environment. Coast Guard men and women – active duty, reserve, civilian and auxiliarists alike – deliver premier service to the public. military force of maritime professionals whose broad legal authorities, assets, geographic diversity, and expansive partnerships provide a persistent presence in the inland waters, ports, coastal regions, and far offshore areas of operations.

15 Jun 2010

This Day in Coast Guard History – June 15

1904-Nearly 1,000 lives were lost when the steamboat General Slocum caught fire in the East River in New York. The disaster led to improved safety regulations and life-saving equipment. 1917-Congress passed and President Woodrow Wilson signed into law the Espionage Act, authorizing the Treasury Secretary to assume control of U.S. ports, control ship movements, establish anchorages and supervise the loading and storage of explosive cargoes. The authority was immediately delegated to the Coast Guard and formed the basis for the formation of the Coast Guard's Captain of the Ports and the Port Security Program. 1944-Coast Guardsmen participated in the invasion of Saipan, Marianas.

12 Mar 2010

This Day in Coast Guard History – March 12

1955-  Effective this date, all foreign and domestic ships were required to give 24-hour advance notice to the local U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port before entering U.S. ports.  This order was designed to improve the U.S. Coast Guard's port security program without "material inconvenience" to shipping. 1965- This date marked the beginning of the US Navy’s Operation Market Time to interdict the river and coastal water supply lines of Communist forces in South Vietnam.  The initiation of this campaign led to the Navy’s request for Coast Guard vessels and crews to participate in river and coastal patrols during the Vietnam War. (Source: USCG Historian’s Office)

16 Jul 2008

AAPA Port Security Seminar & Expo Set for Houston

The American Association of Port Authorities' (AAPA) 12th Port Security Seminar and Exhibition, is being held in , July 16-18. The expo plans to address concerns focusing on the security and safety challenges confronting public seaport agencies and marine terminal operators throughout the . The seminar will also feature a day-long exhibition on July 17 to showcase the latest security trends, technologies and products in the seaport industry. Some of the key topics to be discussed include implementing the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program (including the devices that will eventually "read" the embedded biometrics in TWIC identification cards)…

12 Feb 2004

Senator Murray Blasts Bush's Security Funding

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.

15 Apr 2004

USCG to Start International Port Security Visits

The U.S. world. this summer and fall. on overseas trade," said Adm. Thomas H. Collins, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. 2002 that will enter into full force on July 1. nations. programs are developed and executed in harmony. assistance to the traveling team. international code. and plans required under the international code. other countries. be delayed when attempting to enter a U.S. enforcement actions. * Denying entry into U.S. compliance. procedures for implementing the international code. secure global shipping community, including U.S. Protection's (CBP) Container Security Initiative (CSI). CSI and this new Coast Guard program will complement each other. containers that could present a potential risk for terrorism. States. CBP officers observe these inspections. CSI containers.

07 Jul 2004

Feature: Secure Seas, Open Ports

As new international and domestic regulations regarding shipping security enter force, the focus is not simply on security, but also on maintaining a healthy flow of commerce to keep the U.S. and world economy humming. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge recently announced the implementation of new security measures designed to build upon the layers of security that are already in place at the nation's ports. The new measures, required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act, add additional security protections to every port in the United States. Port and vessel protection continues to remain one of the Department of Homeland Security's highest priorities.

14 Dec 2001

Ports Urge Senate to Include Port Security Funding

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.

11 Mar 2002

USCG Awards Contract for Response Boats

The U.S. Coast Guard today awarded a contract of up to $10 million to SAFE Boats International of Port Orchard, Wash., for ports and waterways response boats. Funding for the boats, which will help the service perform Homeland Security missions, was provided in the Emergency Supplemental Act, 2002. The initial order is for 18 boats with an option of procuring additional craft and essential spare parts over the next 18 months. "The Coast Guard is currently operating the largest port security program since World War II alongside other federal, state and local agencies," said Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta. in key economic and militarily strategic ports.

30 Apr 2007

Hearing on Implementation of SAFE Port Act

On April 26, the Subcommittee on Border, Maritime & Global Counterterrorism of the House Committee on Homeland Security conducted an oversight hearing on implementation of the SAFE Port Act. In his opening statement, Chairman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS) complained about the continual missing of deadlines in the port security program. RDML Craig Bone (US Coast Guard), Mr. Jayson Ahern (US Customs and Border Protection), and Ms. Maurine Fanguy (Transportation Security Administration) presented a joint statement summarizing the status of various maritime security programs. In her oral testimony, Ms. Maurine Fanguy discussed some of the complexities of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). She also released the list of TWIC Fixed Enrollment Sites. Mr.

13 Feb 2007

Panama Joins U.S. Port Security Program

The United States has signed an agreement with Panama to prevent smuggling of nuclear and other radioactive materials. The Declaration of Principles was signed Friday, the National Nuclear Security Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy said in a statement. Homeland Security cosigned the declaration, which deals with carrying out the 's Megaports Initiative and CBP's Container Security Initiative. Both programs have as their goal preventing nuclear material being secretly transported through U.S. ports. The initiative is currently operational in six countries, and at various stages of implementation and negotiations with approximately 30 other countries around the world.

05 Sep 2006

AAPA Calls for “Continued Progress” in Port Security

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.

11 Jul 2006

Port Security Program Gets Strong Response

According to Reuters, the TSA has received more than 1,000 documents of feedback on the new rules for workers entering domestic ports, which include fingerprinting and conducting background checks. In late April, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) implemented the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, which included name-based background checks on nearly 400,000 port workers in the United States. The public was allowed 45 days to submit feedback on the next phase of the program, and the public comment period ended on July 6. TSA would collect workers' biographical information including 10 fingerprints, name, date of birth, address, phone number, alien registration number if applicable, photo, employer and job title.

13 Jan 2003

Government Update:The Maritime Transportation Security Act 101

After a series of procedural maneuvers, the 107th Congress adopted the Maritime Transportation Security Act as one of its final bills prior to adjournment. President Bush signed measure into law on November 25, 2002 (Public Law 107-295). The new law represents the most significant expansion of maritime and port security authority since enactment of the so-called Magnuson Amendment in 1950. This Act contains a number of provisions authorizing the Coast Guard and other agencies to establish maritime security standards and mandate certain security enhancements to be undertaken by maritime industry. The Act requires facility and vessel vulnerability assessments to be done by the Coast Guard.

04 Dec 2002

Maritime Industry Gets A New Act

After two years of machinations within Congress, involving various federal agencies and with some input from the private sector, the United States finally has a Maritime Transportation Security Act. This measure, when fully implemented, will impose broad security requirements on the maritime industry. It will also put the United States out of step with other nations with regard to various aspects of maritime security. This bill is a combination or synthesis of measures adopted separately by the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate passed the Port and Maritime Security Act of 2001 on December 20, 2001. The Maritime Transportation Antiterrorism Act of 2002 passed the House of Representatives on June 4, 2002.