DHS Progress and Challenges in Key Areas of Port Security
Ports, waterways, and vessels handle more than $700 billion in merchandise annually, and an attack on this system could have a widespread impact on global trade and the economy. Within the Department of Homeland Security, component agencies have responsibility for securing the maritime environment. The U.S. Coast Guard is responsible for protecting, among other things, U.S. economic and security interests in any maritime region. U.S. Customs and Border Protection is responsible for keeping terrorists and their weapons out of the United States, securing and facilitating trade, and cargo container security.
This testimony discusses DHS and its component agencies’ progress, and challenges remaining, regarding
(1) strengthening risk management (a strategy to help policymakers make decisions about assessing risks, allocating resources, and acting under conditions of uncertainty),
(2) reducing the risk of small-vessel (watercraft less than 300 gross tons used for recreational or commercial purposes) threats,
(3) implementing foreign port assessments, and
(4) enhancing supply chain security.
This statement is based on GAO products issued from December 2005 through June 2010, including selected updates conducted in July 2010. You can view the report HERE. (PDF)
I know that most of you are to lazy to actually read the reports ( I am too), so you can get the highlights of the report HERE. (PDF)
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