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Coast Guard Commandant Speaks to Press Club

The U.S. Coast Guard Commandant spoke to the National Press Club last week.  This video is a pretty good snapshort of some issues facing the service today, including Deepwater procurement program, shortfall in marine inspectors and right-sizing (read: increasing) the size of the Coast Guard.  During the question/answer phase, he discusses Katrina, increased presence in Arctic and the transition to the Department of Homeland Security.

New Video on the State of Port Security - Another reason to lose sleep at night

Maritimeterrorism.com published a 20 minute video on the state of port security, particularly emphasizing the Newark Port Authority, here.

Great overview of security challenges vexing America's ports, noting TWIC implementation, physical security issues and other vulnerabilities.

Homeland Security Requires Better ID

Department of Homeland Security published its new guidelines governing identification required of American citizens returning from abroad.  Abandoning the oral declaration rule, the new rules require:

• U.S. or Canadian Passport
• U.S. Passport Card (Available spring 2008)*
• Trusted Traveler Cards (NEXUS, SENTRI, or FAST)*
• State or Provincial Issued Enhanced Driver’s License (when available – this secure driver’s license will denote identity and citizenship)*
• Enhanced Tribal Cards (when available)*
• U.S. Military Identification with Military Travel Orders
• U.S.Merchant Mariner Document
• Native American Tribal Photo Identification Card
• Form I-872 American Indian Card
• Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Card

Management Challenges at Homeland Security? Inspector General Issues Report

The Department of Homeland Security Inspector General just issued a report on "Major Management Challenges".

Among the challenges facing the Department are disaster response, border security, transportation security, financial management, and acquisition management.  FEMA and Katrina get some attention.  The Coast Guard and Deepwater do too.

GAO Identifies Security Concerns for Foreign Ports

The GAO recently released its report on container security in foreign ports.  Lots of information and analysis here to digest, but troubling was its not-so-subtle comment, "We still see room for improvement."

Congress Holds Hearings on TWIC Implementation

Congress held hearings this week on TWIC implementation. 

The Statement of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair is here.  The Chair of the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, here.  Coast Guard Admiral Salerno, here.  TWIC Program Manager for the Transportation Security Administration, here. TWIC implementation contractor's representative, here.  And Maryland's Secretary of Transportation, here.

Feds Have New Plan for Disasters...er, Responses

Thanks to cgblog.org for their post on the new National Response Framework published by the Department of Homeland Security. 

This framework "adds" on to the National Response Plan and is used for interagency (federal/state/local) responses to incidents.  In the maritime context, the National Response Plan was frequently used for pollution incidents and cleanup.

TWICs and Small Businesses

Maui News reports on the difficulties posed by the TWIC implementation at Kahului Harbor. I discussed TWICs here.  TWIC implementation nationwide has been challenging on several levels.  Hopefully, these transition issues can be sorted out and the nation's ports can become more secure.

GAO Identifies Security Concerns with Tankers

The GAO issued a report on federal efforts to prevent and respond to terrorist attack on vessels carrying oil and liquified natural gas (or to use the report's term - energy commodity tankers).

This lengthy report identifies shortcomings in prevention and response plans, entrusted largely to the U.S. Coast Guard.  The GAO recommended that the federal government: 1) develop a resource allocation plan to balance security with the Coast Guard's (and other agencies) other missions; 2) develop national guidance for dealing with economic consequences of port closures; and 3) develop plans and exercise an integrated approach to pollution and terrorism response.

Congress Calls for Proof that Radiation Tech Works

Nuclear Threat Initiative's Global Security Newswire reports that Congress is pressing for outside scientific analysis of radiation detectors slated for use at the nation's ports, posted here.

Per NTI's report, "The new detectors, called Advanced Spectroscopic Portal monitors (or ASPs), are designed to not only detect radiation but to identify the nature of its source, eliminating the need for time-consuming secondary inspections to determine whether the material is innocuous or dangerous.  A number of mundane items regularly shipped into the United States, including ceramic tiles and bananas, contain radioactive isotopes that can set off the radiation detectors."

Concerns over the efficacy of this cutting edge technology prompted inclusion of a requirement for outside analysis in the 2008 Appropriations Bill.