TSA and Coast Guard Facilitate Homeland Security Exercise

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Coast Guard facilitated a port security exercise in Tampa on November 16, that evaluated the preparedness, potential preventitive actions and the ability to respond to and recover from a terrorist-related incident. The Port Security Training Exercises Program (PortSTEP) is focused on building links within the Area Maritime Security (AMS) Committee, which assists the Coast Guard Captain of the Port in writing, reviewing and updating the Tampa Bay AMS Plan as well as assisting other transportation entities that depend upon the port being secure. The AMS Committee, like the exercise conducted today, has a membership that includes federal, state, and local law enforcement and emergency management as well as port authority and industry experts.

The exercise is part of a series of national exercises that involves the entire port community, including both governmental agencies and private industry, in a partnership intended to improve connectivity of various surface transportation modes and enhance current Area Maritime Security Plans. Communication and coordination abilities of the government and maritime industry are also tested by these exercises that will take place at 40 of the nation’s largest seaports over the next three years.