TERMINAL OPERATIONS

Line boss adds his voice

21 years ago

Chuck Raymond, ceo of Horizon Lines, has commented on port security in the wake of the DP World debacle. Raymond is past Chairman of the National Advisory Council on the Maritime Transportation System and the Security sub-committee of that council and also a member of the National Maritime Security Advisory Council.

Chuck Raymond (third from right): sees no unusual risk in DP Worlds case

“Security of our ports breaks down into three pieces, ” says Raymond.

“Physical security: this is the responsibility of the port facility operator and must conform to plans regulated and approved by the US Coast Guard. Coast Guard inspectors regularly review port cargo facilities to insure agreed-to precautions are in force.

Physical Guard services can be obtained from public or private resources, depending on the practice at any particular port.

“Vessel Security: this is the responsibility of the vessel operator. The US Coast Guard also has jurisdiction over the safe operation of vessels in US waters, environmental compliance and crew clearance matters. The Coast Guard has good data to determine what vessels represent various levels of risk.

“Cargo Security: this is the area that concerns most people – the question of ‘What’s in the box.’ Homeland security has a series of programs to help assure we know what is in a container intended to be loaded on a ship headed for the United States.

The National Targeting Centre uses sophisticated programs to sort shipments according to anomalies or unusual changes from patterns. Suspect containers or shipments (this is the critical 5-6% often cited by less-than-fully informed critics) are then stripped out and fully inspected by U. S.

Customs, or in certain cases are even prohibited from being lifted aboard a vessel headed to our shores.

“DPW are not buying ports. They are assuming operations of certain berths and accompanying acreage where longshore and warehousing operations are performed. Provided Dubai Ports World complies with the security protocols established for all such operators, I see no unusual risk in their case.”