Homeland department unveils new port security regulations

The Homeland Security Department on Tuesday announced new regulations for port and vessel security, requiring security plans for commercial vessels ranging from cruise liners to cargo ships and approximately 5,000 ports and other facilities. The rules are part of the department's implementation of a 2002 maritime transportation security law.

Asa Hutchinson, Homeland Security Department undersecretary for transportation, and Vice Admiral Thad Allen of the U.S. Coast Guard announced the publication of the new rules, which were written after the department held seven public meetings nationwide, and they are intended as flexible guidelines for ports of different sizes and functions to meet the same security requirements.

"The rules are performance-based," Allen said. "It will be up to individual ports to determine the best way to control access," he said. "This is truly another layer that we are adding to the security of our country," said Hutchinson. "These regulations are taking very important steps to securing our nation's seaports, waterways and vessels."

However, the rules will require more ships to carry Automatic Identification System (AIS) technology. These "black box" devices transmit ship speed, destination and identification to other ships and to shoreside monitoring stations. Additionally, the new order is intended to provide instantaneous identification of all large ships in U.S. waters.

These rules are effective immediately on an interim basis, with public comments accepted for the next 30 days. Final regulations will be published in October, and ships and ports must implement their security plans by July 2004.

Hutchinson and Allen also announced an additional $105 million in port security grants that will be made available later this year to ports and facilities. The Transportation Security Administration also is developing a Transportation Worker Identification Credential, with pilot programs underway at three ports, Hutchinson said. When completed, the credential will be issued as a universal identification for all transportation facility workers.

More maritime safety and security teams will be deployed to two additional ports by the end of the year. The teams, a "rapid response" security force, are now in place in four regional ports, and the department has budgeted six additional teams in 2004.