Press Release

For inmediate release        September 2007

PortGard - Port Security

Ninety-five percent of US international cargo traffic is waterborne, making port safety a priority. To this end, on November 25, 2002, President Bush signed the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002, establishing security requirements to protect the nation's ports and waterways against terrorist attacks. The MTSA established a series of measures that vessels, seaports and other shore facilities must implement. Among the regulations included in MTSA are: passenger, baggage and vehicle screening procedures; security patrols; establishing restricted areas; personnel identification procedures; access control measures; and/or installation of surveillance equipment. Many states, which have this special interest, have taken security measures in response to the security of our ports. However, it seems that our country has taken another twist and turn in where the threats now lie. Congressional Democrats now in charge of homeland security are demanding the government step up efforts to tighten security in the nation's subways and other mass-transit systems. Subway operators, counterterrorism experts and mayors say it's about time Congress focused on transit security after five years of massive government spending on aviation security, "Transit has been drastically short-changed” says Elliot Sander, director of New York City's Metropolitan Transit Authority.

"The absence of adequate federal funding for transit security is putting transit in a place where it has to make agonizing choices over ensuring passengers' safety."
So now where does the priority lie in the protection of the nation's ports if the concern is focusing on other areas? What it appears to occurring is when events happen in other countries; here in America we take the reactionary approach into changing the priority of which areas we should be concerned with. What we need to learn to establish is total consistency across the board evaluating multiple threat areas such as the ports, transit and aviation. But it does not stop there as we need to look at the big picture here. The talks of cost effectiveness in preparing for these events have always become the biggest hurdle and stumbling block. One avenue of helping to assist in this area is obtaining the assistance from private consulting and security firms who will obtain advanced and educational training and will add as a supplemental set of eyes and ears to the system. If the continued search for technology to help solve all these problems continue, we will be looking at the “what if” factor once again.

Here are some final points in which the government and private industry should see: First there are in this country companies in the private sector currently operational with highly trained personnel, many from retired law enforcement offering their services to local, State, and Federal Authorities. The larger private security companies currently provide security to government facilities, even within foreign countries. If you attend the many security conferences throughout the United States each year, you will notice the vendors and speakers most often are from the private sector. PortGard and Awareness Protective Consultants are two of the many well-trained and equipped companies currently marketing their service to concerned governments. Now is the time for Homeland Security minded authorities, to partner with the private sector and take advantage of the knowledge and expertise they offer, by doing so they will enhance the security of our homeland.

Call or contact us today to learn more.

Phone: 1.212.582.9512

Email: info@PortGard.com