Posted on 02/24/2006 11:07:33 PM PST by endthematrix
The U.S. Public Port Industry
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) represents more than 80 public authorities in the United States. These state, county and city government agencies own and develop seaport facilities to handle both domestic and international maritime commerce being imported to or exported from the United States. U.S. ports and waterways handle more than 2.5 billion tons of trade annually. The majority of our nation’s overseas cargo flows through AAPA member ports’ facilities.
While some public ports operate their own cargo terminals, many serve as “landlord” ports, leasing portions of their facilities to private terminal operating companies. While some of the private companies operating terminals in the United States are U.S. corporations, many are non-U.S. businesses that operate terminals worldwide or are affiliated with the foreign flag steamship lines that carry the cargo. All terminal operators, whether public or private, must comply with Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) and must have facility security plans reviewed and approved by the U.S. Coast Guard, as indicated below.
Port Security
Port security is the top priority for AAPA members. Protecting this vital part of our transportation infrastructure is critical to our nation’s economic growth and vitality.
The federal government takes the lead in protecting America’s ports. The Department of Homeland Security, primarily through the activities of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Coast Guard, run many programs to secure our ports. The U.S. Coast Guard is responsible for maritime security and reviewing and approving security plans for vessels, port facilities and port areas which are required by the MTSA. Customs and Border Protection is responsible for cargo security, and screens and inspects cargo entering the U.S. through every U.S. port.
Other cargo security programs include the Container Security Initiative (inspection of U.S. import cargo by CBP prior to leaving the outbound foreign port), use of radiation detection equipment to screen for weapons of mass destruction, use of other non-intrusive inspection devices, and the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-TPAT) which encourages maritime stakeholders to verify their security measures. The Port Security Grant program and the pending implementation of the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) are also important parts of America’s port security portfolio to provide layered security.
While the federal government takes the lead on waterside and cargo security, overall security is a shared responsibility with port authorities, facility and vessel operators, and state and local police providing additional security. The MTSA also establishes local security committees to evaluate and make improvements in each port.
DP World Acquisition of P&O Ports
P&O Ports is a terminal operating company that operates marine terminal facilities worldwide, including several terminals in the United States owned by public port authorities. Some press accounts have not accurately stated the nature of the business transaction involved or the resulting impact on U.S. port operations. DP World’s purchase of P&O Ports would involve the operation of specific terminals or provision of stevedoring services (vessel loading/unloading) at some ports, but DP World would not “own,” “control,” or “take over” those ports (which would continue to be owned by the port authorities). DP World would not be solely responsible for facility security at any of the involved terminals, and the federal government would continue to be primarily responsible for maritime and cargo security.
AAPA has not taken a position on the issue.
Good stuff. Thanks
ROFLMAO!
Well done!
thanks.....I'm surprised scrappleface didn't pick up on it...I emailed it to them.
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Here's a helpful aid in checking out P&O's North American operations:
http://portal.pohub.com/portal/page?_pageid=169,1,169_82863&_dad=pogprtl&_schema=POGPRTL
I just heard Captain Kelley Sweeney, (Master Mariner, Merchant Marines) on the radio last night as a guest speaker. He authored the book "From The Bridge", which tells his stories of sailing around the world for twenty years in merchant ships, including dealing with terrorists at sea.
According to Sweeney, who is a true expert on port and terminal procedures, those foreignors who are hired by the subsidiaries and sub-contractors of big companies like P & O, have their background checks done only by the companies who hire them, NOT by the U.S. government. So these foreign-hired dock workers at our "landlord" ports get a free security pass of sorts. Scarey stuff coming from a guy like Cpt Sweeney.
This guy in no way was taking any political side or attacking anyone, he was just voicing his expert concerns about our horrendous port security as it stands now, and about how it could get worse with the UAE company working at our ports if we don't start changing laws and security procedures a.s.a.p.
LOL
The Unions aren't responsible to anyone? What i'm saying is, this company can't just hire anyone, they have to be in the Union, and in order to get in the Union they are probably already vetted.
And what I'm saying is that these huge maritime companies like P & O hire subsidiaries and sub-contractor type companies from around the world to do much of the work for them. And it's these smaller (foreign) companies who hire their own people, from God-knows-where, and they do their own background checks on these foreign workers without being required to have them vetted by U.S. security. This is what I have heard from a Merchant Marine Captain whose in the field well over twenty years.
(Cpt. Kelley Sweeney, Merch. Marine - Google him if you'd like, he's a very knowledgable source on this topic and has written about it. He's also the editor of a big Merchant Marine publication).
When does a Union do backgrounbd checks?
bttt
they probably don't but the FBI probably does. We will find out in the hearings im sure we have 45 days.
China's doin just fine with 50% of the ports in LA... not a peep out of anyone...
I guess not since all those machine guns in COSCO containers turned up...but that was years ago.
GW will be long gone before we find out exactly how bad this deal actually is.
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