Coalition Promotes U.S. Port Security

A newly formed coalition will advocate for improved maritime security. The Coalition for Secure Ports is comprised of terminal operators, vessel operators, port associations, shippers and others involved in handling the millions of cargo containers that enter the United States each year. The coalition said it will identify actions the government and private-sector stakeholders can take to improve security, as well as educate the public about the improved security measures that have already been implemented since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The coalition said it would focus on three steps:

• Requiring enhanced cargo information
• Monitoring the location and security of containers in transit
• Implementing a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) to quickly and accurately verify the identity of individuals with access to cargo.

"Over 95% of the nation's import cargo moves through America's 361 seaports each year, and the maritime industry contributes more than $1 trillion to America's annual GDP. We need to continue to make smart, sophisticated, technology-based improvements to ensure the security of the system," says Basil Maher, president and COO of Maher Terminals and president of the National Association of Waterfront Employers (NAWE), a Washington, D.C.-based trade association. NAWE is a member of the Coalition for Secure Ports. Other members include the Boston Shipping Association, New York Shipping Association, and Southeast Florida Employers Port Association.