Port Authorities Call for IT Enhancements

Computerworld - Washington
A new terrorism warning surfaced last week indicating that as many as 25 terrorists of Middle Eastern origin may have slipped into the U.S. unnoticed after stowing away aboard cargo ships that entered four major U.S. seaports.
The threat, while not new, underscores the need for better IT systems to help port authorities and local law enforcement agencies better track suspected terrorists and criminals who attempt to enter through the nation's seaports, say port authority officials.
Beth Rooney is manager of port security at The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, where specific threats to historical landmarks last week put officials on a heightened state of alert. One of the biggest port security problems, she said, is that ship cargo information isn't received by port authorities until three to five days before a ship arrives.
"We are pushing for [systems to ensure] supply chain integrity and the integrity of the contents of the container, including that there's not a person in there," said Rooney, referring to the need for timely transmission of certified container inspection documents from authorities outside the U.S.
"I would also like to see a database or notification system for ports and law enforcement agencies affiliated with the port to network and alert each other when we discover something out of the ordinary," said Lindy Rinaldi, chief of police for the South Carolina State Ports Authority. "Right now, we do not have any communication [systems] to link other ports and law enforcement agencies together.
"Currently, all notifications are made by phone," Rinaldi noted. "This can cause serious delays in passing along much-needed information that would be useful for our homeland security protection."
Financial Constraints
Anne Moise, manager of port security at the South Carolina State Ports Authority, said her organization has big plans for improving security, but little funding. For example, the port in Charleston has rolled out an identification system for access control. "This system is not fully utilized yet due to funding issues, but the format is in place," Moise said.
Funding may be on its way, however. A U.S. Department of Defense appropriations bill could provide $93.3 million to the U.S. Department of Transportation's new Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to fund port security assessments and enhancements. Likewise, the Port and Maritime Security Act of 2001, which was passed by the Senate Dec. 20, calls for $390 million in grants for port security infrastructure improvements.
Funding can't come soon enough, port authority officials said.
"Transactions between the buyer and seller take place40 to 50 days ahead of time," said Rooney. "If you can provide the purchase order information to the authorities at the time the transaction is made, then we can have intelligence on what to look for. It's integration. The systems and the data are out there."
The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey recently requested funding to build and test a pilot version of such a purchase order transaction-monitoring function in its system. Grants will be awarded by the TSA next month.
"We can build the functionality and have it ready to go in July," Rooney said.