US member ports of the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) identified nearly $4 billion in crucial port and supply chain security needs over the next 10 years, according to the report AAPA launched ‘The State of Freight’. Specifically, AAPA members reported they will need $2.62 billion to maintain and upgrade their security apparatus over the next 10 years. They also identified $1.27 billion in future security investments to address cybersecurity, active shooter, drone mitigation, resiliency or other evolving security threats.
Mainly, AAPA conducted a survey in its US corporate members on how this program has affected the security at their ports and their products’ movement. 95% of AAPA’s U.S. corporate members responded directly to this survey and provided feedback in follow-up interviews.
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In addition, the report highlights refocusing the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Port Security Grant Program to better meet the security infrastructure needs of publicly-owned commercial seaports and related maritime operations.
Up to now, the US Government invests $100 million per year in the Port Security Grant Program, which was launched after the 9/11.
Protecting our nation’s seaports against terrorism and other security threats helps ensure safe and reliable goods movement, which is critical to our economy… What’s needed now is a shift to more investments in maritime domain awareness, including prevention and protection measures.
By 2017, however, the container volumes have increased by 71% and the total foreign trade tonnage rose by 37%, whereas cruise passenger traffic almost doubled.
Moreover according to the survey:
- 85% of AAPA U.S. member ports say they anticipate direct cyber or physical threats to their ports to increase over the next 10 years;
- 78% of ports anticipate using future port security grant funding on cyber security;
- 90% report that future funding would be used for upgrading technology, such as cameras and other surveillance tools;
- 86% of ports would use future security funding to enhance physical security;
- 65% would use it for training to better prepare port and local first responders to respond effectively to soft target threats such as an active shooter.
Moreover, Kurt Nagle, AAPA President and CEO noted that through the survey the port members resulted that Port Security Grant Program appropriations need to increase four-fold to $400 million annually.
However, the ratio of grant funds going to ports needs to at least double to 50% to properly mitigate for security threats.
For more information, click the PDF herebelow.
