Research 2

Enhancing Maritime and Port Security

Introduction

The 9/11 attacks exposed vulnerabilities in in the U.S. security systems. Following the series of attacks, United States’ federal government came up with various initiatives to enhance security in various sectors in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security plays a major role in coordinating other stakeholders to internal security in various sectors including the transport sectors. Major security challenges faced in the United States ensue from weaknesses in the transportation system as appertains to movement of cargo and people through the air, sea, railway and roads (Makrinos, 2004). Vulnerabilities in security measures adopted in the U.S. ports pose immense risks to internal security. in as much as various measures are currently in place to strengthen port security, security experts have identified a number of areas that need strengthening as appertains to port security.

Following the 11 September 2001attacks, Executive Order and Congress gave formulated directives that DHS complies with in identification and creating measures to port security. In order to ensure effectiveness in its operations, DHS carries out its obligation in ensuring port security through three agencies namely the U.S. Coast Guard, the U.S. Custom Service and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS). Port security covers long stretches along the entire massive U.S coastline, and surveillance and communication are important components of security. Despite all these initiative, the U.S. ports are still exposed to significant security risks. The question that this paper seeks to answer is; are there ways that through which port security can be enhanced? This paper, in particular, explores research literatures that have explored mechanisms of enhancing American maritime and port security.

Research Hypothesis

The research that birthed this paper was based on hypothesis guided by the conviction that there are various avenues that can be exploited by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other Federal bodies involved in internal security in an effort to enhance U.S. maritime and port security. The hypothesis that guided this research is that improving port security requires enhanced regulations and collaboration between governmental stakeholders and private organizations.

Literature Review

Several published researches present a wide range of possible solutions to holes that are identifiable in strategies used by security agencies to mitigate security threats in American ports. First off, research literature by (Brewer, R. (2014) shows that administration has a huge contribution toward ensuring that the U.S. ports are protected from incidences of terror attacks. Based on their findings, the role of administration goes beyond providing an environment that allows for continued implementation of existing strategies. As such, the federal government (administration) has to have a distinct contribution aimed at facilitating performances DHS and other bodies tasked with bridging vulnerabilities that may create space for both foreign attackers. One of the ways through which administration can help to heighten security at U.S ports is by establishing various frameworks with separate roles that revolve around oversight of adoption of security measures by relevant bodies.

Oversight is also beneficial in making sure that there enforcers of devised measures do not exercise exceptions that may lead to poor security (Makrinos, 2004). Security measures involve best practices, standards and procedures involved in inspection of cargo and surveillance. Agencies tasked with heightening security also need to have adequate personnel, reliable technology and enough experts. Through oversight carried out by independent yet centrally co-ordinated administrative frameworks, revision of security strategies and tools become objective and more objective thus hastening development of port security initiatives to address emerging security challenges.

Chalk (2008) identified that involvement by administration need not to focus on oversight alone but should find ways of influencing security at foreign ports. This is aimed at averting threats that may arise as a result of weak security measures adopted at foreign ports. Terrorists often take advantage of security lapses in foreign ports to smuggle devices, equipment and materials that can be used to attack U.S. facilities. When terrorists are unable to transport their tools via foreign ports, chances are that U.S. ports can be safer. As the U.S. is doing with international terrorism, the authors posit that collaborating with foreign governments to ensure that foreign ports that are linked with U.S ports are safe is a huge step toward reducing vulnerabilities that are currently citable at U.S ports. Deploying U.S custom officers tasked with thorough screening of U.S. bound shipments at foreign ports that are directly linked to U.S ports can be beneficial in eliminating security loopholes attached to the roles of agencies like Container Security Initiative, which currently operates in over forty U.S. ports.

Further, administration needs to come up with ways of enhancing performance of various government agencies tasked with taking care of security at the U.S ports. Owing to the fact that the roles of most of security bodies mandated to handle port security are overlapping, administration should find ways of creating distinct responsibilities of port security agencies in which the issue of unclear boundaries is resolved.

Another research by (McNicholas, 2016)observed that ensuring that previous policies and measures like the safe port act are implemented while other important but neglected measures are revised and adopted by integrating them with current can help in increasing port security. Although 9/11 attacks spurred developments in measures used to enhance port security, over the past decade, policy makers have proposed important policies and approaches for the purpose of increasing port security. Regrettably, enforcers have continually neglected certain proposed policies and directives that when revived can help to revitalize existing security port approaches. This would motivate federal policy makers and agency-based proposals to increase since policies and strategies are not taken for granted. Consequently, value placed on strategies and policies, whether federally or internally initiated, throughout the port security system. More importantly, the authors identify that this approach need to take into account the fact that functionality and economic viability of ports need not to be disrupted in the height of implementation of new port security approaches.

According to Yang, Ng, & Wang, (2014), port security has tremendously improved since the mid-nineteenth century. Up to the end of twentieth century, port security strategies and programs mainly focused on reduction of cargo theft and drug smuggling. From then to the present times, a number of significant changes have occurred in the way port security is viewed. Current port security approaches focus on reduction of vulnerabilities that can lead to terrorist attacks on U.S. ports and smuggling of tools that can be used by foreign attackers such as international terrorists to execute their plans within American borders (Makrinos, 2004). Their position regarding increasing port security is that gains made thus far as appertains to improvement of port security exist as motivation for further improvement of port security. This stems from the fact that United States is naturally committed to securing its residents and facilities.

Harrald, Stephens, & vanDorp, (2004) are of the opinion that port security measures need to be systemic and involve prevention, preparedness, response and recovery after attacks. Strengthening of infrastructures, establishing standards and protocols, implementing best practices and establishment of flexible organizational structures are fundamental in ensuring that all aspects of port security and possible areas of threats are accounted for in a bid to improve port security. Implementation of recovery plans is equally vital in guaranteeing that ports remain operational even after attacks. However, the authors recommend department-specific approaches to implementing approaches used in mitigating vulnerabilities and handling of attack related factors that may affect port security.

Conclusion

Overall, U.S. ports are important contributors to the state of economy of the United States and as such, increasing port security is a priority to the government. This is why many security experts and scholars have conducted researches to find ways of securing U.S. ports from attacks. Assuredly, improving port security requires multi-agency approaches whereby communication, sharing of information and having distinct functions are at optimum. This is key in making sure that policies and internal and federal-initiated standards as well as internal approaches to heightening security at U.S. ports are always heightened. Adoption of technology is widely recommended as an effective tool for cargo inspection and surveillance. More importantly, future research need to focus on determination of specific roles and the exact value of individual agency towards increasing port security, in addition to determining how individual agencies can contribute to enhancing port security with the aim of mitigating vulnerabilities.

References

Brewer, R. (2014). Policing the waterfront: Networks, partnerships, and the governance of port security. OUP Oxford.

Chalk, P. (2008). The maritime dimension of international security: terrorism, piracy, and challenges for the United States (Vol. 697). Rand Corporation.

Harrald, J. R., Stephens, H. W., & Rene vanDorp, J. (2004). A framework for sustainable port security. Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, 1(2).

Makrinos, S. T. (2004). United States port security in the war on terrorism. Sea Technology, 45(3), 33-34.

McNicholas, M. (2016). Maritime security: an introduction. Butterworth-Heinemann.

Yang, Z., Ng, A. K., & Wang, J. (2014). A new risk quantification approach in port facility security assessment. Transportation research part A: policy and practice, 59, 72-90.