Maritime Security in Focus in the Caribbean
Puerto Rico, centrally located at the crossroads of the Caribbean, is the location of Maritime Security 2015 Caribbean currently underway in the busy port city of San Juan. The keynote addresses were delivered by Ingrid Colberg-Rodriguez, executive director of the Puerto Rico Ports Authority, and Capt. Michael Zamperini, deputy commander of Coast Guard Sector San Juan. Attendees included representatives from federal agencies, including Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection, Transportation Security Agency, FBI, FEMA, Drug Enforcement Agency, and the National Joint Terrorism Task Force.
Georgia Ports Authority Completes TWIC Enrollment
The Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) has completed the initial employee enrollment process for the Transportation Workers Identification Credential (TWIC) program. The federally mandated TWIC requirement created by the Department of Homeland Security is a common identification credential for individuals requiring unescorted access to secure or restricted areas of seaports. The Transportation Security Agency (TSA) opened the TWIC Enrollment Center in Savannah, Ga. in November 2007. Since November, the GPA has enrolled all of its employees in Savannah and Brunswick. “The cooperation of all port users is required to ensure the program’s successful implementation in Georgia,” said GPA’s Executive Director Doug J. Marchand.
AAPA Tells Congress Funding Falls Short
American Association of Port Authorities' (AAPA) Chairman of the Board Dick Steinke, executive director of the Port of Long Beach, told Congress today that at least 52 U.S. public port agencies say they intend to apply for Department of Transportation Port Security Grants totaling $222.8 million. This far exceeds the $93.3 million appropriated by Congress for this program. Steinke testified on behalf of AAPA during a hearing of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Marine Transportation, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. As state and local government agencies, Steinke said in written testimony, public port authorities warrant Federal help and assistance, to avoid new requirements becoming unfunded Federal mandates. Grants, he explained, are the best way to do this.
Will the USCG be Properly Funded?
The White House has embarked on a full-scale effort to sell the new federal cabinet level Department of Homeland Security. While the Congress does not seem to oppose the creation of the new department, they will no doubt reshape the make up as the project works its way through the system. Once the Congress starts adding and subtracting from what will go into the agency the process will become quite unpredictable. The stated purpose of the new agency would be to be the repository or clearinghouse of all domestic terrorism intelligence, merging some 22 agencies with 170,000 employees. At first blush it would appear the agency would be driven by the US Customs and Secret Service [both from Treasury] and the Transportation Security Agency [from Transportation (DOT)].
President Signs Supplemental Appropriations Act
On Friday, August 2, 2002, the President signed into law H.R. 4775, the "2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act for Further Recovery From and Response To Terrorist Attacks on the United States" which provides supplemental FY 2002 appropriations for continuing the war on terrorism; homeland security activities, including critical funding for the Transportation Security Agency; and recovery efforts in New York. The following items may be of particular interest to the maritime community: the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) received $2 million to address critical mapping and charting backlog requirements. available, $5 million previously appropriated to the Maritime Administration for the federal maritime loan guarantee program (Title XI) is rescinded.
OMSA Officials Testify At TWIC Hearing
The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program is overly complex and could create the same delays for the maritime industry that recent changes in passport rules caused for American travelers, according to testimony by Offshore Marine Service Association Vice Chairman Otto Candies, III. Candies’ delivered his comments at a July 12 Congressional hearing. The hearing was held by the Coast Guard and Marine Transportation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to assess the progress on the TWIC Program. At the hearing, witnesses from the Transportation Security Agency and the Coast Guard acknowledged that the program is roughly six months behind schedule.
