Maritime officials
get last chance to
tweak security rules
WASHINGTON >> Hundreds of maritime industry representatives packed a Coast Guard hearing yesterday for one last chance to tweak broad new security rules for thousands of U.S. ports and ships.
The Department of Homeland Security on July 1 released interim rules that require 10,000 ships, 5,000 coastal facilities and the nation's 361 ports to draft and implement security plans. The Coast Guard says ports, ships, coastal facilities and offshore oil drilling units will have to spend $7.3 billion over the next 10 years on equipment, personnel and training.
Many speakers praised the Coast Guard plan for being flexible to the various security concerns and economic needs of maritime businesses. But some said they remain worried about costs and potential service disruptions.
Edmund Kiley, emergency management and security coordinator for Washington State Ferries, said he is eager to learn whether his ferry system, the nation's biggest, will have to screen passengers and their bags. That will become clear when the ferry system submits its security plan and the Coast Guard reviews it.
"If a security plan causes significant reduction in service, negative impact on the economy and a transportation system failure, then the plan will have failed and those who wish to do us harm will have succeeded," Kiley said.
Under the rules, people waiting to board large passenger ships, including ferries and tour boats, 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, for "high," and only on certain ships deemed most vulnerable.
Gary Frommelt, president of the Passenger Vessel Association, said the Coast Guard addressed many concerns of commuter ferries, sightseeing tour boats and other members of his organization.
But he said one major problem remains: a requirement that 4,121 domestic ships buy and install "Automatic Identification System" transponders so their identity and movements can be continuously tracked.
The Coast Guard estimates the cost will be $9,300 per ship. For some small seasonal operators, Frommelt said, that expenditure will "wipe out the profit margin for the year."
The Rev. John D. Von Dreele, executive director of the Seamen's Church Institute in Philadelphia and chaplain to the Port of Philadelphia and Camden, said some ports are already blocking ship crew members from taking shore leave, and he urged the Coast Guard to intervene.
