Ports, ships face tougher security

WASHINGTON - Thousands of U.S. ports and ships will have to toughen security against the threat of terrorism under rules issued by the Homeland Security Department on Tuesday.

Much of the cost will be borne by the maritime industry.

Some 10,000 ships and 5,000 coastal facilities will be required to assess their vulnerabilities, hire and train security officers and purchase security equipment. The nation's 361 ports will have to establish security committees, draft security plans and hold training drills and exercises.

Under the rules, people waiting to board large passenger ships, including ferries, could be subject to the types of body and baggage screening now in place at airports. But a Coast Guard official said that would happen only during times when the nation's terror alert has been raised to "orange," and only on certain ships deemed most vulnerable.

The regulations also will force the owners of 4,121 domestic ships to buy and install transponders so their identity and movements can be continuously tracked.

Several experts, including Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, have said America's ports are the most vulnerable segment of the transportation industry today. Ninety-five percent of international cargo to the United States is carried by ship.

The new rules, which will become final late this year after one more public review, apply security protocols typically associated with international seafaring to many domestic vessels, public ports and other piers, terminals and loading docks.

The Coast Guard estimates the cost to ports, ships, coastal facilities and offshore oil drilling units will exceed $7.3-billion over the next 10 years.

The Homeland Security Department has distributed $337-million in grants to ports and facilities and later this year will release an additional $105-million. Still, Asa Hutchinson, undersecretary for border and transportation security, acknowledged the maritime industry will have to assume much of the cost of making itself more secure.

The rules focus on parts of the maritime industry deemed at greatest risk of a transportation security incident, including tankers, barges, large passenger ships, cargo and towing vessels, offshore oil and gas platforms and port facilities that handle dangerous cargo.

Leaders of industries affected by the rules praised the Coast Guard for working with trade associations to streamline the approval process.

Riverboat casinos, for instance, can meet the government's guidelines by implementing a model security plan being crafted by the American Gaming Association.

Tugboats and barges can follow a model created by their trade group, American Waterways Operators. "It's something we developed ourselves, so it's specific to our industry," said Anne Burns, the group's vice president for public affairs.

The six rules that took effect Tuesday are interim rules that implement the Maritime Transportation Security Act.

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