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June 13, 2003
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) yesterday announced grant funding for two major port security initiatives - Round II of the TSA Port Security Grant Program and Operation Safe Commerce (OSC).
The Ports of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett will receive a combined $5.89 million in TSA Port Security Grant Program funding. In addition, the Ports of Seattle and Tacoma will share $13.3 million in OSC funding.
"Our success in securing this funding is the result of tremendous cooperative efforts between the three major ports of Puget Sound and the teamwork of the state's congressional delegation, led by Senator Patty Murray," said Charles Sheldon, Managing Director of the Port of Seattle's Seaport Division. "It is a recognition of the national economic value of our ports and the leadership we've shown on the issue of port security."
"Port security and the security of our supply chain are essential to our nation's economy and to the safety of its citizens," said Timothy J. Farrell, Port of Tacoma Deputy Executive Director. "As the economic borders of the country, our ports applaud the federal government for stepping up and providing this funding. We are particularly appreciative of Senator Patty Murray's leadership in the Senate and the Senate Appropriations Committee."
TSA Port Security Grant Program Funding
The Ports of Seattle, Tacoma and Everett received a combined $5.89 million of $190 million awarded nationally to199 state and local government agencies, ports and private companies.
Port Security Grant applications were submitted in March 2003. TSA, the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration (MARAD) evaluated the applications and selected grant award recipients. At the three Pacific Northwest ports, the grants will fund the following projects:
Port of Seattle
Port of Everett
Port of Tacoma
In July 2002, the three Pacific Northwest ports received a combined $4.76 million of $92 million awarded nationally in Round I of the TSA Port Security Grant Program. The majority of the funds were used for threat vulnerability assessments. These were completed in February 2002.
Operation Safe Commerce Funding
Operation Safe Commerce is a federally funded program, designed to bring together shippers, such as Target, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, J Jill, etc., together with carriers, ports, local, state and federal representatives to analyze current security procedures for containers entering the country. The program's objective is to prompt research and development, including emerging technologies, to enhance the policies, procedures and processes of container movement and ensure the security and integrity of containers throughout the supply chain.
The nation's three major container load centers - Tacoma/Seattle, New York/New Jersey and Los Angeles/Long Beach - each oversaw the development of OSC "teams," which presented formal proposals to each load center. The load centers, in turn, submitted selected proposals to the TSA for approval in March 2003.
Of the 12 proposals submitted by the Port of Seattle/Port of Tacoma, five supply chain tests will receive funding. Those tests include:
All told, the OSC supply chain tests for the Tacoma/Seattle Load Center total $10.6 million for project team funding and $2.7 million for project management, analysis and evaluation. Pinkerton Consulting Group was selected as the project manager by both ports for Operation Safe Commerce.
It is estimated that OSC supply chain tests and evaluations will be completed by July 2004. Those security techniques that prove successful under the program will then be recommended for implementation throughout the maritime commerce industry.