Port security an issue on 9/11 anniversary
The Lower Manhattan skyline seen from New Jersey pre-9/11.
Port and industry leaders across the Western Hemisphere paused on Sunday 11 September to remember those tragically lost in the terrorist attacks in America 10 years ago.
Among those lost were 84 industry colleagues from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey who perished at the World Trade Center.
In the decade 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. Since then, public port authorities have made terrorism detection and prevention one of their top priorities. With the combined efforts of port authorities and initiatives of federal agencies within the FBI and Department of Homeland Security (DHS), including the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Transportation Security Administration (TSA), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Domestic Nuclear Protection Office, ports are significantly safer now than prior to 9/11.
"For centuries, seaports have been a vital part of this nation's transportation infrastructure, and safe, secure seaport facilities are critical to protecting our borders and moving goods, said Kurt Nagle, American Association of Port Authorities' president and CEO. "Regrettably, the more than 50% funding level cut recommended for FEMA's State and Local Program grants, which includes the Port Security Grant Program, could impact the current security capabilities of many US ports as well as hamper their ability to carry out their five year port protection plans."
The comprehensive Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002, and the Security and Accountability For Every (SAFE) Port Act of 2006 changed the way ports handle cargo and passenger movements. To implement the security measures in this legislation, America's ports and their terminal operators have invested billions of dollars into security personnel and training, enhancements to perimeter security, access control and credentialing systems, interoperable communications technology, and waterside security such as patrol boats, vessel tracking and underwater threat detection systems.
While federal Port Security Grant Program funds have helped pay for the sweeping security overhaul at US ports, the grants often require ports to pay a 25% ‘cost-share’, pay 100% of their security program operations, management and policing personnel expenses (representing the highest ongoing cost for security at most ports), and limit infrastructure construction costs to 10% of the grant total. Furthermore, in addition to the huge funding cuts proposed for fiscal 2012 and beyond, the lumping of port grant funds with other State and Local Program grants, such as those for first responders, urban areas and transit systems, will likely result in even less funding for port security.
Among the materials Navy SEALS found in Osama Bin Laden's Pakistan hideout were plans showing the maritime industry is still a key Al-Qaida target. Given ongoing threats such as these, the US seaport industry is asking Congress and the Administration to make port security a top funding priority in current and future appropriations rather than considering it for funding cuts.
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