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On Jan. 6 Indian maritime officials raised the port security level in Gujarat from level 1 to level 2.

There was no reason given to the escalation of the security level. Analysts have speculated that it may have been increased because of Gujarat’s proximity to Pakistan and India’s close relationship to the United States.

On Jan. 10 Indian the security level was restored to Security Level 1 at all Gujarat ports.

Resources:

• What is MARSEC Level 1?
• What is MARSEC Level 2?
  

Blog Tags: MARSEC 1, MARSEC Level 1, MARSEC 2, MARSEC Level 2, MARSEC, MARSEC Level, Homeland Security, Maritime Security, Port Security

Maritime Security (MARSEC) 1 means the level for which minimum appropriate security measures shall be maintained at all times. MARSEC 1 generally applies when Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) Threat Condition Green, Blue, or Yellow are set.

How do I add the MARSEC Level to my web site?

To add the current MARSEC Level to your web site, insert the following tag into your html source code.

Resources:

• MARAD – Maritime Security Course
• USCG – Maritime Security Regulations
• USCG – MARSEC

Maritime Security (MARSEC) Level 2 means the level for which appropriate additional protective security measures shall be maintained for a period of time as a result of heightened risk of a transportation security incident. MARSEC 2 generally corresponds to Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) Threat Condition Orange.

How do I add the MARSEC Level to my web site?

To add the current MARSEC Level to your web site, insert the following tag into your html source code.

Resources:

• MARAD – Maritime Security Course
• USCG – Maritime Security Regulations
• USCG – MARSEC

Maritime Security (MARSEC) Level 3 means the level for which further specific protective security measures shall be maintained for a limited period of time when a transportation security incident is probable, imminent, or has occurred, although it may not be possible to identfy the specific target. MARSEC 3 generally corresponds to Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS) Threat Condition Red.

How do I add the MARSEC Level to my web site?

To add the current MARSEC Level to your web site, insert the following tag into your html source code.

Resources:

• MARAD – Maritime Security Course
• USCG – Maritime Security Regulations
• USCG – MARSEC

The Coast Guard has a three-tiered system of Maritime Security (MARSEC) levels consistent with the Department of Homeland Security’s Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). MARSEC Levels are designed to provide a means to easily communicate pre-planned scalable responses to increased threat levels. The Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard sets MARSEC levels commensurate with the HSAS. Because of the unique nature of the maritime industry, the HSAS threat conditions and MARSEC levels will align closely, though they will not directly correlate.

MARSEC levels are set to reflect the prevailing threat environment to the marine elements of the national transportation system, including ports, vessels, facilities, and critical assets and infrastructure located on or adjacent to waters subject to the jurisdiction of the U.S.

MARSEC Level 1 means the level for which minimum appropriate security measures shall be maintained at all times. MARSEC 1 generally applies when HSAS Threat Condition Green, Blue, or Yellow are set.

MARSEC Level 2 means the level for which appropriate additional protective security measures shall be maintained for a period of time as a result of heightened risk of a transportation security incident. MARSEC 2 generally corresponds to HSAS Threat Condition Orange.

MARSEC Level 3 means the level for which further specific protective security measures shall be maintained for a limited period of time when a transportation security incident is probable, imminent, or has occurred, although it may not be possible to identfy the specific target. MARSEC 3 generally corresponds to HSAS Threat Condition Red.

How do I add the MARSEC Level to my web site?

To add the current MARSEC Level to your web site, insert the following tag into your html source code.

Resources:

• MARAD – Maritime Security Course
• USCG – Maritime Security Regulations
• USCG – MARSEC

Keeping Cargo Safe From Terror
Hong Kong Port Project Scans All Containers; U.S. Doesn’t See the Need

By ALEX ORTOLANI and ROBERT BLOCK – www.wsj.com – July 29, 2005; Page B1

How do you keep a terrorist from smuggling a radiation-filled “dirty bomb” or other weapon in one of the seven million-plus shipping containers that arrive at U.S. ports each year? That question has dogged policy makers, customs agents and counterterrorism experts ever since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

Until now, U.S. Customs and Border Protection has sought to secure global shipping by relying on intelligence and scrutinizing suspicious cargo manifests — such as an unrefrigerated container full of “frozen fish” — to identify potentially dangerous shipments long before they reach American shores.

But critics say this method is flawed because the information on shipping documents if often vague and unreliable, and intelligence is spotty, particularly from remote corners of the world. Currently, fewer than 6% of the containers headed for American ports are deemed “high risk” by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and pulled aside for examination by Customs inspectors.

Now, port officials in Hong Kong, the world’s second-busiest port after Singapore, are testing a strategy that electronically scrutinizes every container full of sneakers, toys, gadgets or other contents. Proponents contend it better secures the global shipping system — without unacceptably slowing the flow of commerce.

Full Article

Technorati Tags: Antiterrorism, Counterterrorism, Homeland Security, Maritime Security, Port Security