Access Control
& Security Systems

Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge has announced more than $300 million in funding to enhance security at major ports around the country and overseas. Ridge says the new port security initiatives and investments will enable U.S. authorities to "screen and board 100 percent of high-risk vessels coming into our ports."

Among the measures announced is the expansion of the existing Container Security Initiative -- aimed at identifying, targeting and searching high-risk cargo -- to ports in the Muslim countries of Dubai, Malaysia and Turkey. Ridge describes the container initiative -- already up and running in 20 major ports outside the U.S. -- as "a formidable tool" in the fight against terrorism.

Domestically, Ridge announced $170 million in grants to enhance security at key U.S. ports and facilities, through the purchase of patrol boats and surveillance equipment. Another $75 million will be distributed by the Office for Domestic Preparedness to cover infrastructure protective measures, security enhancements, training, exercises, equipment, planning and information sharing.

The cargo security program is designed to tap emerging technologies to prevent tampering with vulnerable shipping containers along the way from their overseas origins to their destinations in the United States. The ports of Seattle and Tacoma in Washington, Los Angeles and Long Beach in California, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey are participating in the pilot program.

The announcement came on the heels of a proposed redirection of funding for a $58 million program approved almost a year ago to strengthen security at the nation's three largest seaports. The department had proposed moving $28 million of that funding for airport security.

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