Port Security Grant Program News

As dusk descends upon our nation's ports, casting shadows over the waterfront, another shadow looms in the digital landscape — the threat of cyber warfare. In an era where connectivity reigns supreme, our maritime infrastructure stands at a critical juncture, balancing vulnerability and resilience. The recent White House announcement of a Presidential Executive Order, and a hefty $20 billion in Inflation Reduction Act funding proposal to fortify our ports, underscores the gravity of the situation.It is a fact that at this time China has manufactured 80% of our nation’s ship-to-shore cranes…

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 New Orleans was awarded $947,280 in recently announced Port Security Grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to support the expansion and enhancement of emergency services for Port NOLA’s maritime and industrial operations.With this funding award, Port NOLA will invest in physical and technological upgrades to the Port’s Emergency Operations Center (EOC) which serves as home base during hurricanes and other significant incidents. Additionally…

The Port of New Orleans was recently awarded $514,964 in Port Security Grant funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to upgrade technology at the Harbor Police Department (HPD)’s Maritime Security Operations Center (MSOC).“This grant funding will strengthen our ability to provide proactive law enforcement services, patrols, anti-terrorism efforts, and investigative services,” said HPD’s Police Chief Melanie Montroll. “I am grateful for FEMA’s ongoing support…

Port Canaveral will add a new security patrol vessel and a pilot boat after receiving federal grant funding for several projects to protect against terrorism and other security threats.The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded $472,500 in Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) funding to allow the Canaveral Port Authority (CPA) to purchase a new Security Rapid Response Boat. The vessel will be a 33-ft. “Life Proof” boat operated…

The Port of Redwood City said it will invest approximately $2.5 million of Port Security Grant Program funding to develop a new fire and police boat dock, which will serve as the home base for emergency vessels.The development of a new boat dock further supports the Redwood City, Calif. port's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Federal Staging Area (FSA) designation.The Port Security Grant Program funding enables the port to support interagency operations, enhance training exercises and fund security infrastructure such as cameras…

The Port of Corpus Christi Authority (PCCA) has added a new patrol boat to its security force.The new 44-foot port security boat was purchased using a combination of Port Security Grant Program funds from the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), as well as matching funds from the PCCA. The new boat replaces one existing police vessel that has been in operation for more than a decade and had limitations when operating in severe sea states.

One of the United States’ largest and most productive heavy-gauge aluminum boat builders has been humming along at its recently expanded manufacturing facility in Roseburg, Ore.Last spring, North River Boats added a new 33,750 square foot manufacturing building to house all commercial and large boat recreational fabrication. Additional remodeling of the existing factory was completed shortly after to expand small boat fabrication. The yard relocation of its canvas/upholstery shop and received new paint preparation bays…

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA)  identified nearly $4 billion in crucial port and supply chain security needs over the next 10 years.That funding level is what’s needed to maintain and upgrade America’s port facilities and ensure they are properly equipped to address new and evolving security challenges, said AAPA in the latest report in its “The State of Freight” infrastructure series.“The State of Freight IV” is the fourth report in as many years, conducted by AAPA, to highlight the needs of America’s deep-draft commercial public ports to effectively move goods into and out of their facilities by land and water.The…

A 479-foot asphalt tanker was towed into New York Harbor after an engine room fire left the vessel disabled off the U.S. East Coast.Early on October 5, U.S. Coast Guard watchstanders in Woods Hole, Mass. received a report that the Hong Kong-flagged tanker Feng Huang AO loaded with asphalt and bound for New York Harbor suffered a fire in its engine room while transiting 57 miles southeast of Nantucket Island.The flames were extinguished using the ship’s installed carbon dioxide fire suppression system.

Ports making up for lost timeDespite the critical role the maritime transportation system plays in the economic health of the United States, and despite its fairly recent embrace of all things automated – cranes, vehicles, surveillance and even vessels – the sector has been slow to warm to the need to protect its digital systems and assets.Post 9/11, security concerns about the nation’s borders, air space and infrastructure, including ports, moved front and center for a brief moment before other concerns…

California boat builder Moose Boats said it was awarded a contract from the San Francisco Fire Department for the construction of a M2-38 Catamaran CBRN, Dive and Fire Rescue vessel to enter service in the third quarter of 2018. The aluminum catamaran, which is 75 percent funded by FEMA’s FY2015 Port Security Grant Program, will be powered by twin Cummins QSB6.7 425hp turbo diesel propulsion engines with Hamilton HJ292 waterjets. Serving primarily as a dive and rescue boat, the vessel will be outfitted with an integrated dive/recovery platform and a bow ladder for beach rescues.

Newport, R.I. fire department orders emergency response vessel from California boat builder Moose Boats. Moose Boats, a boat designer and manufacturer in the San Francisco Bay Area, said it was awarded a contract from Newport Fire Department in Rhode Island for the construction of a M2-38 aluminum catamaran CBRNE emergency response and recovery vessel. The vessel will be powered by twin Cummins 425hp turbo diesel propulsion engines coupled to Hamilton water-jets.The M2 catamaran will be equipped two completely independent fire pump systems each flowing in excess of 1…

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…

Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson announced final allocations of $275 million for six fiscal year 2016 U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) competitive preparedness grant programs, including $100 million for the Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). The PSGP aims to help protect critical port 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 capabilities.

A new fireboat was officially welcomed into service Wednesday at the Port of Long Beach, representing a significant leap forward in protecting the harbor and the flow of trade through the nation’s second-busiest seaport. In a dockside ceremony attended by 100 invited guests, the fireboat named “Protector” was dedicated in memory of Donald Domenic DiMarzo, a former Long Beach Fire Department captain. DiMarzo served as a fire marshal aboard the USS Intrepid in the Pacific during World War II. He was posthumously awarded the Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism and distinguished service for leading efforts to save the aircraft carrier after an attack that set it ablaze on Nov. 25, 1944.

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) said today it is encouraged by the potential of significant gains for landside freight transportation programs in President Obama’s fiscal 2017 budget, bit is disappointed, however, in the proposed funding levels for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers coastal navigation programs, the Environmental Protection Agency’s Diesel Emissions Reduction Act (DERA) grants, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Port Security Grant program.

About $100 million will be available to various port authorities, facility operators and state and local government agencies who have developed an Area Maritime Security Plan as part of the 2015 FEMA port security grant program. Eligibility Criteria is established pursuant to the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, as amended (MTSA) wherein Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established a risk-based grant program to support maritime security risk management. This year funding is directed towards the implementation of AMSPs and Facility Security Plans (FSP) among port authorities, facility operators, and state and local government agencies that are required to provide port security services. The application submission deadline is May 19, 2015 at 11:59 PM EDT.

The Port of Hueneme announced that it will receive more than $400,000 in funds from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) through the Fiscal Year 2014 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). The funds will help protect critical port 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 capabilities. "The Port of Hueneme is a connection to world markets, serving as a priority gateway for the Western United States, and it is critical to the economic health of Ventura County and Southern California," said Congresswoman Brownley.

Boat designer and manufacturer in the San Francisco Bay Area, Moose Boats, said it has delivered a M2-35 Catamaran Patrol Boat to New York City Police Department’s Harbor Unit. The 35 foot all-aluminum catamaran vessel is a sister ship to NYPD’s three existing Moose Boats M2- 35 catamarans, the first of which has been in service since December 2009. The vessel will be responsible for patrol, search and rescue, recovery and dive operations in New York Harbor and the East and Hudson Rivers. Propulsion is achieved by twin Yamaha 350hp four-stroke outboards, and a Northern Lights generator powers integrated heated decks and windows as well as reverse cycle air conditioning.

U.S. companies continue to land lucrative contracts with domestic and foreign customers for vessels that are designed or specially customized to meet defense, police and anti-piracy needs. Governments here and abroad, meanwhile, continue to cut budgets. Many of the security craft to be delivered this year are built to save energy, reduce emissions and reach higher speeds and greater cruising ranges than their predecessors. They have the latest tracking and communications systems. And a few new vessels are remotely operated.

Aluminum boat manufacturer Moose Boats announced the delivery of two patrol boats. The builder delivered a M2-38’ Patrol Catamaran to the United States Park Police in Fort Tilden, New York, as well as a M2-38’ Wide Cabin Patrol Catamaran to the New Jersey State Police in Point Pleasant, New Jersey. The U.S. Park Police’ all aluminum catamaran is powered by twin 425hp Cummins turbo diesel engines with TwinDisc transmissions coupled to Hamilton HJ292 water-jets. Maneuvering is achieved by dual complete Hamilton BlueArrow control stations at both the central cabin helm station and cockpit.

U.S. Moose Boats, a boat designer and manufacturer in the San Francisco Bay Area, announced two recent vessel deliveries: a M2-35 Catamaran Patrol Boat to the Placer County Sheriff’s Office in Carnelian Bay, Calif., and a M2-38’ 3,000GPM Fire Rescue Catamaran to the Bellingham Fire Department in Bellingham, Wash. The builder has received an additional order to build a M2-38 Catamaran CBRNE Emergency Response and Recovery Vessel for the New Bedford Fire Department in Massachusetts.