Homework Responses Wk 6 & 2

Good evening, class.

I hope this post response finds everyone doing well this week.

One of this week’s discussion topics is based on the security challenges faced in port maritime environments.

Some of the security challenges that maritime and port security environments face are, like many other critical infrastructure sectors, the risks to vulnerability posed by the size of many seaports and their respective locations to population. Add to that the risks associated as soft targets for terrorists to use a multitude of improvised devices, and the challenges are ever-increasing. So, port maritime environments need to maintain a balance to ensure the viability of economic resiliency and security to ensure safe operations of maritime transportation of goods.

Also, we are to discuss the risk-based management approach to maritime transportation.

The use of a risk-based management approach is to mitigate the risks associated with the vulnerabilities that come with seaports’ operation and openness. If you have ever gone on a cruise or visited a commercial seaport, you may have realized the amount of traffic coming and going in and out of a port. While there have been specific security protocols enacted since the attacks of 9/11, they are still vulnerable to ease of access and the ability to approach through various methods. Someone who wants to get onto a seaport for any malicious reason can do so by land or sea. The risk-based management approach is used to analyze any potential risks that may arise or address any vulnerabilities noticed before bad actors can exploit them.

Let’s discuss the Megaport initiative.

The Megaport initiative began in 2003 to ensure the scanning of all cargo entering the US seaports to be free of any radioactive or nuclear material that may be used for illicit purposes. The initiative’s implementation was to deter terrorists from exploiting the maritime transportation of goods and cargo to move or enter radiological materials into the US or other countries.

The reason this program is not advancing to its initial goal of 100 ports.

The program did not advance to its intended 100 ports goal in part for the reduction in budget allocations. After spending approximately $850 million in 31 countries, the initiative lost steam. At the same time, the initiative called for implementing radiation detection equipment, port staff training, and risk mitigation analysis by port security management to ensure safe operations. Planned developments for other countries were halted because of budget cuts.

What is the most significant security challenge to address in the port security realm?  

The most significant security challenge to address in port security would have to be the use of asymmetric warfare. As we learned in our weekly lesson, asymmetric warfare is heavily used by terrorists. The risks of a potential attack on a port are significant. The size of seaports, their proximity to population and commerce, and their vulnerabilities because of ease of access make for considerable security challenges. While there can be other risks or threats, these pose the most significant that requires constant vigilance.

I look forward to reading other’s perspectives on the topic, and I hope everyone has an excellent rest of the week.

Respectfully,

Raul Sanchez

 

References:

Congressional Budget Office (CBO). (2016). Scanning and Imaging Shipping Containers Overseas: Costs and Alternatives. CBO.gov. Retrieved from https://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/114th-congress-2015-2016/reports/51478-Shipping-Containers.pdf

US National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA). (2003). Megeports Initiative. Homeland Security Digital Library. Retrieved from https://www.hsdl.org/?abstract&did=473907

Vicinanzo, A. (2015). Lawmakers Concerned Over Threat of Dirty Bomb to US Ports. Decision Sciences.com. Retrieved from https://decisionsciences.com/lawmakers-concerned-over-threat-of-dirty-bomb-to-us-ports-2/