Ridge: Seaports, ships meet security rules
Compliance ahead of schedule, but critics call for more
From Mike Ahlers
CNN Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. seaports and ships are "in full compliance" with new international security requirements ahead of a July 1 deadline, Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Monday.
However, critics call the standards inadequate and say U.S. shores remain vulnerable.
Securing seaports has been one of the country's most daunting goals ever since the terror attacks of September 11, 2001.
Ridge pointed to the ports' security compliance in a visit to the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, the nation's busiest.
"For the first time ever, this international effort will establish one world standard for ship and port security," Ridge said in prepared remarks.
The new standards will help U.S. authorities identify ships before they arrive and will improve security at the nation's 361 seaports, he said.
U.S. officials will now receive copies of manifests before the ships arrive and can evaluate the ship's history to determine potentially high-risk cargo. And once the ships arrive, X-ray and radiation testing equipment will be used to screen high-risk containers.
Ships deliver an estimated 9 million containers annually to U.S. seaports, and nearly 200 million passengers travel in and out of the country on cruise ships and ferries.
Critics say the standards set by the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code and by a corresponding U.S. Maritime Transportation Security Act are minimal and large security holes remain.
A congressional report due for release Friday is expected to say that substantial work remains in securing maritime industries.
Both sets of rules require ships and seaports to assess vulnerabilities, and to address those vulnerabilities by July 1. If, for instance, one port was unfenced or lacked security during certain hours, it would be expected to make amends by the deadline.
Chris Koch, president and CEO of the World Shipping Council, said the standards have value.
"It is not a panacea," he said, but it adds to port security.
He said most ships will meet the deadline.
"I think we're going to be fine," he said. "In talking to our members, everyone seems confident that their ships will be in compliance. ... I think on July 1 there is going to be a lot of activity ... but I think there will be a fairly high rate of readiness."
The U.S. Coast Guard said it plans vigorous enforcement of the new regulations and will board every vessel, at sea or at the dock, on its first visit to a U.S. port on or after July 1.
It also will take additional precautions or deny entry into U.S. waters for noncompliant vessels on a case-by-case basis.
Ridge said security experts would conduct simulated terrorist attacks at certain ports. Those experts and the Coast Guard would then evaluate the outcome and suggest security upgrades to make those ports less vulnerable.
