Safety first ? but not before planning.
At the Second Annual Homeland Port Security Conference at the Maryland Port Administration Cruise Terminal in Baltimore, businessmen, military officers, government officials and port executives met to discuss safety issues regarding America?s ports. Hosted by the U.S. Naval Institute, the daylong conference addressed issues such as liquefied natural gas terminals, maritime domain awareness, container screening and steps following a possible attack.
One clear message was repeated throughout the day: The more work done now, the better the port will be prepared when something happens.
“With what we don?t know about terrorist capabilities, it?s imperative that we prepare with both private and public dollars,” said Jim Loy, former U.S. Transportation Secretary.
The discussions at the conference returned to several local issues.
A proposed LNG plant in Baltimore county could bring an estimated $50 million in annual economic impact to the area, but concerned citizens have stood as a roadblock.
Container-checking policies were also hashed out. Earlier this year, the Local 27 chapter of United Food & Commercial Workers demonstrated in the Inner Harbor against companies opposed to 100 percent checking of containers entering the port. Companies and lobbyists contend that 100 percent inspection is not possible and will put such a crimp in the supply chain that the reaction will be felt in both tax dollars and increased product pricing.
“If you decided on 100 percent inspections the effects will be felt and they will be felt greatest at the end of the day by the consumer,” said Allan Thompson, vice president of global supply chain policy for the Retail Industry Leaders Association. “Let?s be real careful what we legislate and implement, because at the end of the day it?s taxpayers? standard of living we are impacting.”
About 11 million containers come into America annually, the conference estimated. The most recent data from the state indicated that more than 8 million tons of public goods move through the port of Baltimore, including over $36 million of foreign cargo.
