Technology At The Ports
May 1, 2008 12:00 PM, Larry Anderson Stephanie Silk Michael Fickes Rafi Bhonker
The next step, being worked out now, is to plan what to do when, say, an alarm suggests that a container at sea has been tampered with and is now emitting nuclear radiation.
That has proven complicated. The Coast Guard cannot just stop the ship and take possession of the container. Because a single ship carries thousands of containers, the problem container will probably be buried deep in the ship. To get at it, the ship will have to put into port and be unloaded.
But which port? A problem container can't be taken to a major port. Smaller ports won't allow the ship to dock. The port that loaded the container won't take it back.
According to Bliss, the final report on the project, due out within a few months will recommend policies and procedures that deal with these kinds of problems.
Larry Anderson, Stephanie Silk and Michael Fickes contributed to this report. Material was also supplied by Rafi Bhonker, vice president of marketing for Orsus.
PROCUREMENT AT THE PORTS
HERE IS HOW some of the ports are benefiting from Department of Homeland Security (DHS) grant money:
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The Port of Anchorage in Anchorage, Alaska, will make additional improvements to its new security command center with $207,000 in federal grant money. The funds will pay for an enhanced emergency radio system, additional surveillance cameras, a fiber optic backbone for the video network and emergency power back up.
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The Department of Homeland Security is tripling its funding for Maryland port security, increasing it from $2 million to $6.6 million. Most of the grant money will pay for a video surveillance system at the port that is stalled past its projected launch date of last year. Grant money will also go toward helping private terminals buy security cameras that link up with the port's public system, software improvements that offer better monitoring of cargo and workers through the port, training for law enforcement officers and improved radio communication and data sharing among agencies.
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Several of Maine's municipalities will receive portions of some $1.7 million that the state received in port security grants from the Department of Homeland Security. A little more than $1 million will go to Portland, $485,000 will go to Bar Harbor, a port expected to see more than 100 cruise ships visit by this fall and $63,000 will go to the Eastport Port Authority.
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The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority in Ohio has received $1.9 million in federal grants for new security systems at Toledo's 19 waterfront terminals including security cameras, lighting and associated hardware, and the other for a card-reader identification system. An $896,000 surveillance project will include new lighting and 30 to 40-foot towers for the cameras to deter criminal and potential terrorist activity.
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The Panama City Port in Florida has received a $1.6 million grant to improve security. “This funding will provide the City of Panama City the opportunity to strengthen security around Port Panama City so that they can continue transporting goods in and out of our port safely,” says Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Monticello.
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A total of $779,044 will be used to enhance security and response capabilities of the facilities at the Port of Milwaukee. When applying for the grant, the port requested to provide for an all-season maritime response and rescue capability, and to fund a full-scale emergency response exercise in 2009.
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In a $6.6 million grant Missouri received, the Kansas City area received $1.6 million for infrastructure protection. The money will be used mainly for security at the Missouri River Port. The St. Louis port area will get a $2.6 million grant, to be disbursed by the East-West Gateway Council of Governments.
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The West Virginia Public Port Authority in Huntington has received nearly $2.4 million in Port Security Grant Program money. The focus is on preventing, protecting against, responding to and recovering from terrorist attacks, major disasters and other emergencies.
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The Port of Brunswick in Georgia is getting a $610,000 federal grant to upgrade security and make other improvements, and the Port of Savannah will receive about $5.3 million for security enhancements. The Brunswick grant will help pay for improved surveillance and communications capabilities and for enhancing data communications between it and the port of Savannah.
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The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey has been awarded more than $45 million — making it the largest amount given out to any single entity in the country.
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Louisiana will receive $38.3 million for its ports, with $30.8 million going to the New Orleans Port area — encompassing New Orleans, South Louisiana, Baton Rouge, St. Bernard Parish and Plaquemines Parish. Other Louisiana port recipients include Lake Charles, receiving $4.1 million, and Port Fourchon/LOOP, receiving $3 million.
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The Port of Mobile, Ala., has received $3 million from the federal government to beef up port security. The plan for grant money use is being crafted by the U.S. Coast Guard's Area Maritime Security Committee and will focus on “closing security gaps,” including the need of counterterrorism training for employees.
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Houston-Galveston has been awarded a total of $32.2 million to strengthen its port security. These funds will help local officials in Houston-Galveston prioritize prevention and protection, information collaboration, communication resources and regionally-based security cooperation.
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© 2008 Penton Media Inc.
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