$7 million
for safer portsThe state and four companies
receive the federal funds
to help fight terrorism
The state of Hawaii, along with four companies, will receive federal funds totaling more than $7 million to help fight potential terrorist threats at local ports.
"The grants, specifically for port security, will be key to ensuring the safety of Hawaii's ports," said U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who announced the grants yesterday. "As we all know, Hawaii is very dependent on maritime traffic. Our ports are vital lifelines for our islands."
Grant recipients
Grants awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration will go to the following state agencies and Hawaii companies:>> State Department of Land & Natural Resources in Kailua-Kona, $1.5 million.
>> State Department of Transportation, $645,000.
>> Tesoro Hawaii Corp., $2.85 million.
>> Matson Navigation Co., $805,000.
>> The Gas Co., $630,561.
>> Chevron Products Co., Hawaii Refinery, $625,000.
The largest grant, $2.85 million, was awarded to Tesoro Hawaii Corp., which owns a refinery in West Oahu. The state Department of Land & Natural Resources will receive $1.5 million for Kailua-Kona, and Matson Navigation Co. will get $805,000.
The federal grants are part of about $150 million that was funded for security in the Omnibus Appropriations Act and another $20 million from the 2003 Supplemental Appropriations Act, according to Inouye, D-Hawaii, a member of the Senate Appropriations homeland security subcommittee.
U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Charlie Johnson, the assistant chief of Hawaii's port operations, said the grants will pay for physical upgrades to security at the ports, including barriers, security systems and training programs.
During the review process, the committee investigated whether a company's claim to a potential security threat was valid and, if so, how severe that threat was.
Due to the Kamehameha Day state holiday, no representatives for the state or the companies could be reached yesterday to explain how the money would be used.
Coast Guard spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Todd Offutt also could not give specifics on what the money will be used for, but said the grants will address different areas of port security.
Hawaii residents and cruise ship passengers "may or may not" see any difference at Hawaii's ports because of the grants, he said.
"Some of those things are visible, and some are less visible," he said.
Offutt said the Coast Guard continues to see improvements in the physical and computer security at Hawaii's ports.
Johnson agreed.
"The state of Hawaii has done a very good job," he said. "We have a very good security posture. I think we are doing quite well."
Others receiving awards include: the New York City Department of Transportation, $7 million; the port of San Francisco, $3.4 million; and the Alaska Department of Transportation, $2.2 million, he said.
Star-Bulletin reporter Sally Apgar and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
