Maritime/port security a report from the Maritime Security Exposition

"[Adversaries] will exploit vulnerabilities in maritime commerce and other worldwide transportation networks upon which global economies depend."

--Naval Operating Concept

The Maritime Security Exposition in New York City was a significant opportunity to gain a further understanding of critical maritime security issues. This subject is receiving international interest due to the heightened threat of terrorist acts that could close down critical elements of the worldwide transportation system. The exposition, held at the end of October 2003, was attended by over 2,500 people from 46 countries and attracted 170 exhibitors. There are now 3,000 businesses working on maritime supply chain security. More than 46,000 vessels and 4,000 ports make up the world's maritime transport system. More than 80 percent of world trade is transported by sea.

The challenge for supply chain security is enormous. The United States has 4,000 miles of coastline, 330 ports, 5,000 airports (large and small), and 2.2 million miles of pipelines. Annually 6 million containers transit our ports and 2 million rail cars and 11 million trucks carry intermodal cargo. This activity generates about $750 billion of commerce. To protect this commerce the Homeland Security Industries Association with 400 members was organized.

The keynote speaker, James Woolsey, former Director of the CIA, opened the conference with a sobering message. He opined that we are in a war to the death with worldwide terrorism and that we must mesh our liberties with the reality of our need for security. This is made more pronounced by the growth of democracies from 20 in 1945 to 122 in 2003. This trend toward democracy is fueling radical movements. The resulting threat is heightened since international networks for commodities such as oil, electricity, etc., and the intermodal supply chain are extremely vulnerable. As was made clear during the conference, the weakest link in security is in the maritime trade space.

While much of the focus is on port and container security, the threat also includes ships that carry cars, scrap metal, fuels, etc. Transhipments between countries with intervening port calls are especially vulnerable. Foreign terrorists are known to be in the shipping trade and action to ensure response and recovery is required. The goal is to reduce vulnerability and increase prevention while at the same time speeding the velocity of the supply chain to enhance commerce. These activities are not mutually exclusive. The approach is to have layered security which is data-centric and decision support that provides the necessary security information without drowning everyone in data. This approach will also enhance cargo flow through the supply chain.

There are over 30,000 port calls in the United States, 80 percent of which come from 15 countries and 50 ports. Some 2 million rail cars and countless trucks carry containers out of the ports to the far regions of our country. Should a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) incident occur, it might result in all ports being closed for at least a period of 90 days with a potential $50 billion impact on the U.S. economy. Such an impact is not unreasonable when one considers that of the recent port closures in California due to their port strike.

Potentially the greatest vulnerability is from the 6 million containers processed through our national ports annually from international companies that load containers and/or transit vulnerable ports. There is major activity and research going on with regard to container security. Twenty major overseas mega ports have container security initiatives designed to provide security at the source. This includes monitoring the "stuffing" of containers, an initiative that is expected to increase dramatically in the coming years. The purpose of these overseas operations is to narrow the number of ships that require close monitoring on arrival in U.S. ports. Those ships that originate from "vulnerable"/smaller overseas ports and those that transit other countries will receive increased monitoring and security surveillance. Increased security in the future will include the use of vessel profiling, sea marshals, increased threat level tactics and surveillance and the application of new detection technology.

A significant amount of research is going into developing a "smart container." One initiative that will be tested in the next several months is a small monitoring device that will not only record the container contents, but will also identify any intrusion/door opening; detect light, motion, change in temperature, or change in ambient air pressure to indicate if the box is likely to have been breached; and to record such events. The data is accessed with a wireless commercial off-the-shelf personal digital assistants (COTS PDAs) powered by C-cell batteries. It also has a port to link with the Global Positioning System (GPS).

In addition to containers and cargo, cruise line security is important. Over 100 cruise ships ply our ports generating 270,000 jobs. Major focus for the cruise lines is with crew identification and entry/exit data management. Ports that are not certified to meeting security requirements are bypassed. Some 330 million foreign tourists enter our country by air, rail, roads, and ship. While screening of these tourists has improved there are major initiatives in the area of biometrics to dramatically improve security and control.

There are also several other programs that are being developed to improve maritime security. These include:

* International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS Code)--this is a far reaching code, the purpose of which is to provide a standardized framework for evaluating risk in threat level and vulnerability. Governments must ensure that each port facility is assessed with respect to security, identifying actual threats to critical assets and infrastructure in order to prioritize security measures. They must also identify weakness in systems, policies, communications, etc.

* Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT)--this is a joint initiative between government and business designed to protect the security of cargo entering the United States while improving the flow of trade. C-TPAT requires importers to take steps to assess, evolve and communicate new practices that ensure tighter security of cargo and enhanced security throughout the entire supply chain. In return, their goods and conveyances will receive expedited processing into the United States.

* Container Security Initiative (CSI)--this program is a four-part program to provide a more secure maritime environment as well as increase efficiency in global commerce. The program's pillars are: establishing security criteria to identify high-risk containers; prescreening containers before they arrive at U.S. ports; using technology to screen high-risk containers; and developing and using smart and secure containers. A critical element in the success of this program will be the availability of advance information to perform sophisticated targeting. NOTE: Additional information on the above programs is available on the Internet by using a browser and searching on any of the program names.

Some of the success factors for port security include a strengthened chain of command, coordination, information sharing, employee security for port areas, and the use of radiological, chemical, and biological detection devices. Today 8,000 of the testers are deployed in our ports with 1.8 million shipments screened. This is in addition to the development of smart containers, providing increased security during container "stuffing," underwater surveillance, and the use of unmanned "Predator" aircraft to monitor port approaches.

In summary, there is a realization that the terrorist threat, at some point, is likely to directly impact the international trade system. This environment highlights the critical need for increased attention and "eternal vigilance" in our oversight of the global supply chain. It is extremely important that all relevant organizations continue to monitor and participate in the development and application of increased security initiatives targeted at reducing vulnerabilities in the supply chain. Forums such as the Maritime Security Exposition in New York City provide insight into current initiatives in this area and deserve both our attention and our engagement. The next U.S. Maritime Security Expo will be held Sept. 14-15, 2004, at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. Visit www.maritimesecurity expo.com.

Rear Admiral James E. Miller, SC, USN, Ret., The Dupuy Institute

RADM James E. Miller, SC, USN (Ret.) retired from the Navy after 37 years of service. He was the 37th Chief of Supply Corps and Commander Naval Supply Systems Command from 1991 to 1993. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. Navy Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C., from 1993 to 1996. He is currently President of LOGSTRAT Inc., a defense consulting firm also working with the Dupuy Institute.

COPYRIGHT 2004 U.S. Department of the Navy, Supply Systems Command
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