Pondering port security…

August 20, 2006 by SwizStick  
Filed under QuickNews

 Print This Post

Leave a comment

…over at Homeland Security Watch:

This story raises an interesting question: what are the appropriate conditions for a decision to shut down a port, in response to a suspicious incident? It’s also a timely question, in the wake of a similar scare that shut down part of the Port of Seattle earlier this week. The reaction to this recent incident was less severe than the potential consequences described in the Newark anecdote above, but we’re still operating in a mode where the natural reaction to an anomalous incident is to escalate the response in a way that is disruptive to port operations.

Perhaps this is the only good option, given the need to quickly protect people and mitigate against the potential consequences of a threat. Or are there ways to improve system awareness and not be forced to make these costly decisions? This is a challenging issue for the agencies responsible for port security, and one that is easy to second-guess after any incident.

Too much of the press and pundits revert to knee-jerk reaction in response to the latest terrorist scares. The first step in developing a comprehensive security plan is asking pertinent questions and seeking to address those questions. Let’s hope, for the sake of security and the economy, the powers that be are doing just that.

Are We Safer Now?

CA Bay Area port security funding to double in 2008

Background Checks for Port Workers

Port Congestion in Kenya