U.S. port security getting tougher

By Leslie Miller
Associated Press

WASHINGTON — More than a third of foreign-flagged ships don't meet international security standards set to take effect Thursday, meaning they won't be allowed to enter American ports.

It's unclear what impact that will have on commerce.

James Carafano, a homeland security expert with the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, said the effect will be negligible because the shipping companies that account for the bulk of goods shipped to the United States will meet the standards.

"My guess is it won't have a serious economic impact," Carafano said. "The people that really drive the U.S. economy will be in compliance."

Coast Guard spokeswoman Jolie Shifflet said it's hard to predict how many ships will be denied entry. "We hope there will be no delays and minimal impact," she said.

Between 150 and 200 foreign-flagged vessels call on U.S. port facilities daily, and between 7,000 and 8,000 annually. Shifflet said vessels that miss the deadline may simply choose not to call on the United States. On Sunday and yesterday, 117 of the 180 ships that called on U.S. ports did not have a certificate showing they met the security standards.

Beginning Thursday, 500 Coast Guard personnel around the country will board foreign ships that enter U.S. ports to make sure they comply with the new rules.

Shipping companies have been trying to adhere to a treaty, signed by 148 countries in December 2002, that requires vessels to tighten their security by the Thursday deadline for U.S. ports and boats to comply with a maritime security law passed by Congress in November 2002.

Under the international treaty, ships must have:

• A security officer.
• A unique identification number visible from the air.
• An alarm system that sends a covert signal to the country that flags it if something violent happens on board.
• Identification checks for people who board the vessel and restrictions on entry to the engine room and bridge.
• Automatic identification systems.
• And also give notice 96 hours before reaching a port, with data on the crew, passengers, cargo and history of the voyage.

A handful of U.S. port facilities — 32 of the 3,200 facilities in 361 ports — could be shut down because they haven't complied, according to Coast Guard documents. About 150 of the 9,500 vessels that fall under the law are unlikely to be ready by the deadline, the documents said.