photosProtecting ports, harbors, terminals, and ships against cargo theft, smuggling, drug weapons and other crime poses an ongoing challenge for Federal, state and local governments and industry.

Post September 11, there are new challenges as well. These include efforts by terrorists to destroy bridges, power plants and other facilities. There are also new concerns about the threat of cargo entering the country containing nuclear, biological or chemical weapons of mass destruction.

The Port and Maritime and Maritime Security Act, passed by the Senate, is helping to address some of these concerns. The bill authorizes $811 million dollars, over a four year period, to U.S. ports, the Coast Guard, U.S. Customs, local governments, carriers and the private sector. These funds are earmarked for scanning equipment, port facility security plans, identification systems, access control, CCTV, supply chain integrity software, documentation checking systems, port vulnerability studies, detection equipment, R&D for scanning technology, cargo tracking systems, electronic manifest filing systems, training of personnel, vessel pre-arrival reporting systems and other security products and services.

This creates tremendous business
opportunities for your company!