Issues Involved in Implementing Port Security

The Implementation of maritime port security is extremely difficult due to the immense area that needs to be secured. The marine areas under U.S. jurisdiction cover approximately:

3.5 million square miles of ocean
95,000 miles of coastline. Within this area, there are
361 public ports, and
118+ maritime port security zones enforced by the USCG

Source = The Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation - Hearing on Port Security

PORT SECURITY FOR PUBLIC PORTS

The seaports are critical gateways for the movement of international commerce.

More than 95 percent of non-North American foreign trade (and 100 percent of certain commodities, such as foreign oil, on which the U.S. is heavily dependent) arrives by ship.
In 2001, approximately 5,400 ships carrying multinational crews and cargoes from around the globe made more than 60,000 U.S. port calls each year.
More than 6 million containers (suitable for truck-trailers) enter the country annually.
Particularly with "just-in-time" deliveries of goods, the expeditious flow of commerce through these ports is so essential that the Coast Guard Commandant stated after September 11:

"even slowing the flow long enough to inspect either all or a statistically significant random selection of imports would be economically intolerable."

U.S. Coast Guard Commandant stated after September 11

PORT SECURITY FOR MARITIME PORT SECURITY ZONES

There are many naval vessels, cruise ships, nuclear power plants, and other potentially hazard facilities located on or near open water ways. These facilities are potential terrorist targets due to the highly visible and hazardous effects that would result from an attack.

PORT SECURITY RISKS - TERRORISM

The tremendous flow of goods into the U.S. has made port security extremely difficult to implement. Drugs and illegal aliens have routinely been smuggled into the U.S. for decades, not only in small boats but also hidden among otherwise legitimate cargoes on large commercial ships. These same pathways are potential port security holes that can be exploited by terrorist organizations, or any nation or person wishing to attack the U.S.

MARITIME PORT SECURITY

A few closing thoughts from the maritime port security specialists at WhisprWave®.

If you are interested in developing a physical maritime port security plan for a military base, a nuclear reactor, a fuel depot or other high value asset that is vulnerable to attack from maritime based terrorists, give WhisprWave® a call and let's talk about how we can help mitigate your maritime risks that are keeping you up at night.

You can contact WhisprWave®:

Telephone: 908.273.3358

E-Mail: info@whisprwave.com

The team at WhisprWave® is confident that we can help solve your marine security problems, don't hesitate - CALL TODAY. WhisprWave® has the right port security technology solution for you.