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. The two measures took somewhat different approaches, but there were no major differences in the overall philosophy. Thus, it was relatively easy (at least by usual Capitol Hill standards) to fashion a compromise that all could live with. The success of the effort is reflected in the final vote. In the Senate, the bill passed 95-0. In the House, it passed by voice vote. Thus, there is a strong mandate, similar to that found with passage of the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 (OPA 90), in the United States to significantly enhance maritime security.

The Act includes numerous separate provisions. I will only attempt here to highlight some of the more important.

Vulnerability Assessments

The Act requires facility and vessel vulnerability assessments to be done by the Coast Guard. The vessel vulnerability assessments will be limited, under this provision, to identification of vessel types that pose a high risk of being involved in a transportation security incident. The term 'transportation security incident' is defined in the Act as a security incident resulting in a significant loss of life, environmental damage, transportation system disruption, or economic disruption in a particular area. It is expected that tank vessels, passenger ships, liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) carriers, and container ships will be found vulnerable (at least to some extent) under this criteria.

Security Plans

Similar to oil spill response plans under the Oil Pollution Plan of 1990 (OPA 90), the Secretary of the Department in which the Coast Guard is operating has been tasked with preparing a National Maritime Transportation Security Plan and Area plans for each Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone. Commercial vessels and facilities that the Coast Guard believes may be involved in a transportation security incident will be required to prepare and submit to the Coast Guard security plans for deterring a transportation security incident to the maximum extent feasible. The vessel and facility plans must be consistent with the National and Area plans; identify the qualified individual having full authority to implement security actions; identify and ensure by contract or other means approved by the Secretary the availability of security measures necessary to deter to the maximum extent practicable a transportation security incident; and describe the training, drills, and security actions of persons on the vessel or facility to be carried out under the plan. The plan must include provisions for establishing and maintaining physical security, passenger and cargo security, and personnel security; controlling access to secure areas of the vessel or facility; procedural security policies; communications systems; and other security systems. Unlike the OPA 90 situation, the vessel and facility plans are not limited to solely relying upon private resources, but the full extent of public resources in vessel and facility security plans is not yet clear. The Coast Guard must promulgate its regulations for vessel and facility security plans by April 1, 2003. The vessel and facility security plans must be submitted to the Coast Guard within one year after the Coast Guard promulgates its regulations. Vessels and facilities will be allowed to operate under unapproved plans for up to one year, if they certify they have taken various measures. This will provide the Coast Guard with time to review and approve the plans.

At the same time, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a specialized agency of the United Nations, is preparing to adopt international standards for ship security plans. The U.S. and IMO provisions will have numerous similarities, but also some striking differences. Both will require designation of company and ship security officers, in addition to development of the security plan. The IMO plan, though, will be prepared in accordance with IMO guidelines and will be approved by the flag state or its authorized agent (generally an IACS classification society). The U.S. plan will be prepared in accordance with USCG regulations and will be approved by the Coast Guard. The IMO plan will be required of all commercial vessels engaged in international trade of 500 gt and greater. The U.S. plan will be required of vessels designated by the Coast Guard. Tentatively, the IMO requirements will come into effect on July 1, 2004. The U.S. requirements will come into effect not later than April 1, 2004, and probably earlier.

Transportation Security Cards

No person will be allowed to enter secure areas of a vessel unless he or she possesses a Transportation Security Card issued by the U.S. Coast Guard or is accompanied by someone who has such a card. Cards would be issued unless the individual is determined to pose a security risk. Transportation Security Cards would be required of the following:

• An individual allowed unescorted access to a secure area designated in a vessel or facility security plan;

• An individual issued a license, certificate of registry, or merchant mariners document by the U.S. Coast Guard;

• A vessel pilot;

• An individual engaged on a towing vessel that pushes, pulls, or hauls alongside a tank vessel;

• An individual with security sensitive information; and other individuals engaged in port security duties.

A Transportation Security Card may only be denied to one of the above individuals if the Secretary determines that the individual has been convicted within the previous seven years of a felony that either presents a terrorism security risk or causes a severe transportation security impact; has been released from incarceration within the preceding five years for such an offense; may be denied admission to the United States or removed from the United States under the Immigration and Nationality Act; or otherwise poses a terrorism security risk to the United States. A potential problem relates to foreign crewmembers. The Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) is currently issuing 'detain on board' orders to large numbers of foreign crewmembers. It is unclear whether these crewmembers with thereby become ineligible for Transportation Security Cards. Since 'detain on board' orders have been issued for some senior shipboard personnel, such as chief engineers, this may present practical problems for ship operation. The Card issuance program would, though, include provisions for waiver and for appeal.

Enhanced Crewmember Identification

Crewmembers on vessels calling at U.S. ports will be required to carry and present on demand an identification credential acceptable to the U.S. Coast Guard. It is anticipated that a mariner's identification card issued under standards being developed by the International Labor Organization (ILO) would meet this requirement. If an international agreement providing for a uniform, comprehensive, international system of identification for seafarers is not negotiated within 24 months following passage of this measure, the Secretary is to present to Congress a draft bill that would establish a uniform, comprehensive system of identification for seafarers. The relationship between enhanced crewmember identification and Transportation Security Cards is not yet clear.

Grants

The maritime security grant program would be made permanent (subject, of course, to funding). Grants would be administered by the Maritime Administrator and available to port authorities, facility operators, and state and local agencies required to provide security services or funds to implement provisions of Area Maritime Security Plans or facility security plans. Costs that could be funded under these grants include conducting vulnerability assessments, acquiring and operating security equipment, and costs associated with correction of Coast Guard-identified security shortfalls. Funding levels for the grant program have not been resolved. While on-shore facility owners and operators have at least some hope that grant funds will offset the cost of mandated security upgrades, vessel owners and operators are again left holding the bag. The Act provides no grant monies for the costs of ship security upgrades. Container upgrades alone could cost hundreds of dollars per unit - and there are thousands and thousands of containers. Meanwhile, the failure of Congress to enact appropriations legislation has delayed funding of any new grants until at least April 2003.

Foreign Port Assessments

The Secretary has been tasked with assessing the effectiveness of antiterrorism measures maintained at foreign ports from which vessels depart on voyages to the United States or that otherwise present a security risk to international maritime commerce. Factors to be considered in the assessment include screening and security measures in place at the port, licensing or certification of compliance with appropriate security standards (which would appear to mean standards developed by IMO), and the security management program of the port. If the Secretary finds that a foreign port does not maintain effective antiterrorism measures, the Secretary is to notify the country of the finding and recommend steps to improve the antiterrorism measures at the port. The Secretary may also prescribe conditions of entry into the United States for any vessel arriving from that port or carrying any cargo or passengers originating from or transshipped through that port. The conditions of entry could be imposed 90 days after the foreign government has been notified of the finding that the port does not maintain effective antiterrorism measures (unless the Secretary finds that such measures have be adequately improved). The conditions of entry could be imposed immediately if the Secretary determines that the threat is severe. In extreme situations, the Secretary could prohibit U.S. port calls by ships arriving from foreign ports without effective antiterrorism measures.

Automatic Identification Systems (AIS)

The Coast Guard is authorized to require installation and operation of automatic identification systems (AIS) on self-propelled commercial vessels measuring 65 ft. (19.8 m) and longer, vessels carrying more than a specified number of passengers for hire, towing vessels of more than 26 ft. (7.9 m) and 600 hp, and any other vessel determined appropriate. Implementation dates are as follows:

• On and after January 1, 2003, for any vessel built after that date;

• On and after July 1, 2003, for any vessel built before 2003 that is a SOLAS passenger vessel, a tanker, or a towing vessel engaged in moving a tank vessel; and

• On and after December 31, 2004 for all other vessels.

The IMO requirement regarding AIS has not been finalized, but may well provide that the equipment is to be installed not later than the first ship's safety equipment survey after July 1, 2004 or December 31, 2004 — whichever occurs first. It is highly unlikely that the U.S. and international implementation dates for AIS will coincide.

Container Performance Standards

The Secretary, in consultation with the Transportation Security Oversight Board, is directed to establish a program to evaluate and certify secure systems of international intermodal transportation.

The program would include establishing standards and procedures for screening and evaluating cargo prior to loading in a foreign port for shipment to the United States either directly or via a foreign port; establish standards and procedures for securing cargo and monitoring security while in transit; develop performance standards to enhance the physical security of shipping containers, including locks and seals; establish standards and procedures for allowing the U.S. Government to ensure and validate compliance with the program; and any other measures the Secretary considers necessary.

The Secretary has also been tasked to develop an antiterrorism cargo identification, tracking, and screening system for containerized cargo shipped to and from the United States.

See the discussion above regarding the cost of upgrading shipping containers, in the 'Grants' section. The industry may well see itself pushed toward having two types of containers — those accepted in the United States and those accepted in the rest of the world. Initially at least, one should expect a shortage of U.S.-certified containers, particularly in smaller ports.

Civil Penalties

Civil penalties of #up to $25,000 could be imposed for violation of the maritime security statutes or regulations.

Expedited Rulemaking

The Secretary would be authorized to promulgate interim final regulations implementing the maritime security statutes without having to comply with the usual provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act, such as advance notice and comment. Final regulations, though, would have to meet the usual requirements.

What this means is that implementation will be greatly expedited, with minimal input from the regulated community. The result will be that any initial mistakes will not be caught and corrected before carriers and others will have to spend time, money, and personnel resources to comply.

Extension of Seaward Jurisdiction

The Espionage Act of 1917 (which first established a port security program for the United States) has been amended to extend jurisdiction out to 12 n.m. from the baseline from which the U.S. territorial sea is measured. A civil penalty of up to $25,000 could be imposed for violation of the Espionage Act or regulations promulgated thereunder.

Transmittal of Information to Customs Service

The Customs Service is now authorized to require that information pertaining to cargo to be brought into the United States or to be sent from the United States be provided to the agency through an electronic data interchange system prior to the arrival or departure of the cargo. Carriers must notify the U.S. Customs Service of any cargo tendered to the carrier for transportation that is not properly documented and that has remained in the marine terminal for more than 48 hours after delivery.

Continuing Efforts to Enhance Maritime Security

The United States will continue its efforts to increase transparency in control and ownership of vessels. It will also work to enhance maritime transportation security, particularly intermodal transportation. In this respect, it will be joined by the majority of the community of nations, although there will be differences in specific measures to be relied upon to achieve the goal. One program that is causing discord is the Container Security Initiative (CSI) of the Customs Service. The European Commission contends that the program, under which U.S. Customs personnel are assigned to various foreign ports to assist in the pre-examination of containers bound for the United States, unfairly discriminates against smaller ports.

Summary

The need to enhance maritime security was made painfully evident by the September 6, 2002 terrorist attack on the French supertanker LIMBURG in Yemen. Now, the goal is to enhance maritime security in a manner that maximizes the benefits while minimizing the costs. In the United States, the Coast Guard, Customs Service, and other agencies involved in the process should be looking to the maritime industry to assist in development of workable solutions. Many in the industry actively participated in the OPA 90 rulemaking process, and the system benefited greatly from that involvement. Similar participation is called for in this situation. The agencies will move ahead in their rulemaking programs with or without industry participation. The rules, though, will be more efficient and impose lower costs if all affected by the programs are involved in the process.

It is incumbent on government agencies to seek input from the regulated community. It is equally vital for the maritime industry to quickly provide its assistance. The parties must not forget that we are dealing with national and international security and that we face a nameless and daring enemy.