Abstract
The maritime industry is a crucial link to transport billions in goods each year to and from countries throughout the world. This historical mode of transportation has steadily grown in importance, sustaining worldwide economic growth and the United States economy. It is generally agreed that an attack against an American port would have a long-lasting economic impact for the United States and its trading partners. Today’s shipping container is the primary asset used to move cargo aboard commercial shipping vessels. The containers are ubiquitous in our society with currently more than 34 million 20-ft equivalent units (TEU) in use around the globe today (World Shipping Council 2014). The typical container used in shipping is a 20- or 40-ft enclosed container. These intermodal containers have greatly enhanced the transportation industry but have also created immense security susceptibilities. Millions of these containers enter the U.S. every year and only small percentages can be inspected. These containers have posed a significant opportunity for terrorist activities to employ weapons of mass destruction or biohazards within the continental United States. This paper provides an overview of the current state and identifies what public and private security initiative enhancements should take place in order to protect the United States economy and homeland against terroristic activities.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Barnes P, Oloruntoba R (2005) Assurance of security in maritime supply chains: conceptual issues of vulnerability and crisis management. J Int Manag 11(4):519–540
Cudahy BJ (ed) (2006) Box boats: how container ships changed the world. Fordham University Press, Bronx
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (2005) A national cargo security strategy white paper (Draft version 1.8)
Department of Homeland Security (DHS) (2014) Department components. Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/department-components
Domestic Nuclear Detection Office (DNCO) (2014) About the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office. Retrieved from http://www.dhs.gov/about-domestic-nuclear-detection-office
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (2014) FY2104 Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). Retrieved from https://www.fema.gov/fy-2014-port-security-grant-program-psgp
Flynn S (2004) America the vulnerable: how our government is failing to protect us from terrorism. HarperCollins, New York
Hart G, Rudman, WB, Flynn SE (2002) America still unprepared—America still in danger. Council on Foreign Relations
IHS Global Insight (2009) An evaluation of maritime policy in meeting the commercial and security needs of the United States. Retrieved from http://www.ihsglobalinsight.com/gcpath/MARADPolicyStudy.pdf
Inbound Logistics (IL) (2014) Cargo security: protecting the supply chain. Retrieved from http://www.inboundlogistics.com/cms/article/cargo-security-protecting-the-supply-chain/
Levinson M (2010) The box: how the shipping container made the world smaller and the world economy bigger. Princeton University Press, Princeton
National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSN) 2010 Office of the Second Line of Defense Megaports Initiative. Retrieved from http://nnsa.energy.gov/sites/default/files/nnsa/inlinefiles/singlepages_9-15-2010.pdf
National Strategy for Global Supply Chain Security (NSGSCS) (2012) Retrieved from http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/national_strategy_for_global_supply_chain_security.pdf
Secure Freight with CSI (2007) Megaports Fact Sheet (SFCM). Retrieved from https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=29200
Smith Adam (1776) The wealth of nations
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) (2014) Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC). Retrieved from http://www.tsa.gov/stakeholders/transportation-worker-identification-credential-twic
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) (2013) Review of maritime transport 2013. United Nations publication, Geneva
United States Coast Guard (USCG) (2014) Maritime security. Retrieved from http://www.uscg.mil/top/missions/MaritimeSecurity.asp
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) (2014a) At ports of entry. Retrieved from http://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (2014b) C-TPAT: Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism. Retrieved from http://www.cbp.gov/border-security/ports-entry/cargo-security/c-tpat-customs-trade-partnership-against-terrorism
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (2014c) C-TPAT program benefits reference guide. Retrieved from http://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/C-TPAT%20Program%20Benefits%20Guide.pdf
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (2014d) Securing the global supply chain C-TPAT strategic plan. Retrieved from http://www.cbp.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ctpat_strat_plan_3.pdf
U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) (2013) Data statistics. Retrieved from http://www.marad.dot.gov/library_landing_page/data_and_statistics/Data_and_Statistics
U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration (MARAD) (2014) About us. Retrieved from http://www.marad.dot.gov/about_us_landing_page/about_us_landing_page.htm
Véronneau S, Cimon Y, Roy J (2013) A model for improving organizational continuity. J Transp Secur 6(3):209–220
Véronneau S, Roy J (2014) Security at the source: securing today’s critical supply chain networks. J Transp Secur 7(4):359–371
World Shipping Council, IHS Global Insight (2009) Valuation of the liner shipping industry: economic contribution and liner industry operations. Retrieved from http://www.worldshipping.org/pdf/Liner_Industry_Valuation_Study.pdf
World Shipping Council (2014) About the industry: containers. Retrieved from http://www.worldshipping.org/about-the-industry/containers
Yang Z, Ng AKY, Wang J (2014) A new risk quantification approach in port facility security assessment. Transp Res A Policy Pract 59(C):72–90
Yeo G-T, Pak J-Y, Yang Z (2013) Analysis of dynamic effects on seaports adopting port security policy. Transp Res A Policy Pract 49(C):285–301
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
The views expressed in this document are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of Defense or the U.S. Government.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Leonard, T.J., Gallo, P. & Véronneau, S. Security challenges in United States sea ports: an overview. J Transp Secur 8, 41–49 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12198-015-0155-9
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12198-015-0155-9