New port security plans due today
By Mike Leidemann
Advertiser Transportation Writer
The Coast Guard says it expects almost all maritime agencies and businesses in Hawai'i to meet today's deadline to hand in new security plans for operations around state harbors.
"Things were trickling in at first, but there's been something of a rush in the last few days," said Capt. Tim Skuby, captain of Hawai'i ports.
In all, about 75 businesses and agencies in Hawai'i and American Samoa are expected to have their plans done by today. Many have turned them in by hand in the past few days, and the rest will be OK if they have them postmarked before midnight tonight, Skuby said.
"We've been in touch with all of them and don't expect too many people to miss the deadline," he said. "Besides, we're more interested in seeing the plans implemented than writing up anyone for being a day or two late."
The companies, ranging from the state Transportation Department down to small sunset-cruise operators, have to submit detailed security plans that could end up costing hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The Department of Homeland Security ordered the new security plans to be developed earlier this year amid growing fear that the nation's ports were vulnerable to terrorist attacks.
While some of the biggest port users, such as Matson Navigation and Horizon Lines, started beefing up security right after Sept. 11, many smaller operators didn't even learn of the new requirements until a few months ago and have been scrambling to get their reports done in time.
"I just got the last one done yesterday," said Capt. Bob Hayes, port operations manager for the University of Hawai'i Marine Center, a 16-acre research area on Sand Island. In addition to preparing an overall plan for the facility, Hayes also had to develop separate security plans for two UH research vessels.
"I dropped them off at the Coast Guard office and now we wait to hear if they're approved," Hayes said.
The state Transportation Department also turned in its plan to the Coast Guard yesterday, said spokesman Scott Ishikawa.
The eight-inch thick report covered security for both passenger and cargo facilities and deals with both state and private waterfront properties, he said.
Among projects being developed in the coming year are an upgrade of the identification credential system for both state and private harbor employees and new surveillance cameras and patrol boats at Neighbor Island harbors, Ishikawa said.
Skuby said all the plans will be evaluated by a Coast Guard office in Kansas City, then sent back to local Coast Guard officials. Once approved, the security plans have to be implemented by the individual agencies and businesses by this summer.
Hayes said he will spend part of his time between now and then trying to find sources of funding for security improvements at the UH facility that could include better perimeter fencing, increased security patrols and surveillance cameras.
The local plans are part of a much bigger change taking place in the shipping industry around the world.
Under U.S. pressure, the International Maritime Organization, the United Nations agency that monitors shipping safety, also is requiring port facilities, ship owners and stevedoring companies in foreign ports to make detailed plans for responding to terrorist threats. Experts say they doubt many smaller ports, particularly in the Third World, will be able to have the plans in place by a July 1 deadline.
Commercial ships transport 80 percent of the world's traded goods, and security experts around the world say that the shipping industry or port facilities remain a likely target for future acts of terrorism.
In recent months, U.S. officials also have begun requiring foreign ports to notify U.S. Customs of the contents of each container heading to a U.S. port 24 hours before it is loaded for shipment. U.S. Customs officials also have been dispatched to ports in 18 countries to help prescreen contents of U.S.-bound containers.
The Homeland Security Department also is introducing next month a "smart box" program designed to make containers more tamper-proof by encouraging shippers to use electronic sensors that show if anyone has opened a container's door.
Several foreign governments also have started to require ships to install short-wave radio transponders that will let authorities track their movements close to shore. While the deadline for large commercial ships is July, shipping industry officials say the Coast Guard still needs to set up at least 250 land-based antennas and receiving stations to receive the ships' signals.
"It certainly won't have a national system of shore-based receivers in place by July 1, but it's trying hard," said Chris Koch, president of the World Shipping Council.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. Reach Mike Leidemann at 525-5460 or mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.
