Maritime security deadline passes with little action

Jan 9, 2004 12:00 PM

           

Nearly 80 percent of the nation's ports, ferry terminals and fuel-chemical tank farms failed to meet an end-of-the-year deadline for submitting maritime security plans.

Coast Guard officials told The Associated Press that the deadline for submitting the plans was met by about 5,200 of 10,000 ships and only 1,100 of 5,000 port facilities -- despite a potential fine of $25,000.

"We recognize that despite our best efforts, there are those who won't comply for a variety of reasons," Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Carter said. Congress last year ordered the maritime shipping industry to tighten security amid fears of a seaport attack.

One reason ships, ports and other facilities were missing their deadline is because they were given too little time, said Maureen Ellis, a spokeswoman for the Association of American Port Authorities. The government didn't finalize what it wanted until Oct. 22, though the industry was told July 1 they had six months to submit the plans. Ellis also said some ports found the regulations and requirements to be "overwhelming."

The plans have to be implemented by July 1, when the Coast Guard can start turning away ships and shutting down ports that don't comply.

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