Homework Responses Wk 7 & 3

Hello class,

  I hope everyone is having a good week. This week’s post compares the laws surrounding strategies dealing in the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, The SAFE Port Act, and The Small Vessel Security Strategy. These are the federal security measures mandated to provide security at port facilities to maintain operations. As shown in the reading coastal security is broken into 3 sections:

·         Physical structures, transportation systems and materials

·         Human assets

·         Cyber Infrastructures, data, information storage

With that being said the Maritime Transportation Security Act MTSA of 2002 was developed to increase the level of security for the nation’s ports. This policy was put into act after 9/11 so the Coast Guard could regulate facilities in vessels in US jurisdiction. The Department of Homeland Security under guidelines established by President Bush’s administration in 2002 to enhance security strategies. This policy provides the Coast Guard with an ability to do unannounced spot checks at least once a year. While  the authority and ability to asset threats to critical infrastructures align with the growth of FSA Facility Security Assessment to inspect and evaluate critical assets and potential threats. Therefore, the tactics in this legislation are designed to protect the nation's ports and waterways from a terrorist attack (DHS, 2002).

   The SAFE Port Act of 2006 was developed to make sure the nations ports stayed secure from maritime transportation terrorism.  This policy was put into act to strengthen efforts already put into effect. Enabling custom agents, the ability to check cargo with technology without opening containers before they were brought into the port. Therefore, safeguarding our ports by deploying agents to foreign ports in different countries to check cargo. where to deter the efforts of terrorists trying to smuggle devices into the country. Finally giving the federal government the authority to control waterways surrounding the country key to improving borders. Advances in port security since 2006 were made possible through public and private collaboration as new security measures became part of doing business in the maritime environment (Willis, 2016).

    With that the policy involving Small Vessel Security refers to the risk that small vessels may be used in the smuggling of materials.  As found in DHS Gov the goal of this strategy is to enhance maritime security with a layered approach. To hopefully deter terrorists from using small vessels partnerships with public and private sector communities are needed. Has found any other policies advancement in technology to the tech possible threats on small vessels is important. Risk should be managed through a sharing of information across federal, state, local and private sector partners (2019). Each sector draws from their own approach on detecting and deterring possible threats. Strategies that range from sending agents into foreign lands too pre-scan freight. As well as designing frameworks around improving public as well as private collaborations. All three of these policies are constantly evolving driving tactics used by federal agencies to protect such a vast region of our borders.  

 

 

DHS. (2019, November 04). Written testimony OF plcy, Uscg, CBP, Tsa, FEMA for a Senate Committee on Homeland security and Governmental Affairs Hearing titled "Evaluating port Security: Progress made and Challenges Ahead". Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://www.dhs.gov/news/2014/06/04/written-testimony-plcy-uscg-cbp-tsa-fema-senate-committee-homeland-security-and

DHS, D. (2002). Protecting america’s ports. Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://www.aapa-ports.org/files/PDFs/mtsa_press_kit.pdf

National archives and Records Administration. (2006). Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061013-2.html

Small vessel security strategy. (2019, April 16). Retrieved February 19, 2021, from https://www.dhs.gov/publication/small-vessel-security-strategy

Willis, H. (2016, April 06). Ten years after the safe Port Act, Are America's Ports Secure? Retrieved February 19, 2021, from  https://www.rand.org/blog/2016/04/attractive-targets.html