us ports spend big post-9/11 to guard against terror while keeping goods flowing in - security camera protection box

SAVANNAH, Ga. -
The fourth swamp in the country-
In the past, the busiest container port was considered a big enough barrier, and officials at Savannah Port did not bother to build a full fence around the busy main terminal.
Now the safety is so tight, about 4,000 times a day, steel containers from arriving ships are loaded onto tractors --
Before entering the highway, the trailer must pass through a giant radiation detector designed to sniff out a nuclear bomb.
For 10 years since.
The federal government has spent $2 in 11 attacks.
5 billion comprehensive security checks in the United StatesS.
From Seattle to New Orleans to Eastport, Maine, from perimeter fences to motion sensors to training for security personnel, all expenses are paid by the harbor.
The federal agency, the Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection agency, which plays a direct role in protecting the harbor, has added up to $0. 42 billion in a unified identity card system.
There are 6 million truckers, dock workers and other port workers in the country.
The biggest challenge is to keep an eye on imported goods without causing an expensive slowdown in foreign trade.
The 185 public ports in the United States themselves also have huge costs, often passing tariffs and fees on to shippers.
For example, the price of port Savannah is $5.
It handles 75 safety charges for each cargo container.
Curtis Katz, executive director of the Georgian port authority, said: "This is obviously unfortunate and a huge financial cost for international business . " Who can see from his office window the line of the truck pulling the goods through a radiation scanner.
"But there is no real choice today. "U. S.
The port is worried that Congress will cut port security funds significantly in the budget for fiscal 2012.
The most recent bill passed by the House included a $1 billion cut from the Department of Homeland Security, mainly by cutting its funding program.
The American Association of Port authorities said,S.
The port will lose half or more of the money they are counting on to achieve a security improvement plan for the next five years. "With the debt-
We 've just been hit hard by the ceiling crisis, "said Susan monteveld, vice president of the group.
President in charge of government affairs
In Port Long Beach, California.
National second-
Sean Strawbridge, director of operations, estimates that every dollar of federal security benefits his port receives
$100 million since 2002
Need the equivalent amount of the port's own money.
While grants may pay for new technologies, such as sonar used to monitor underwater intruders, they will not pay additional staff to operate the equipment, he said.
Security upgrade and next upgrade in Long Beach
Door neighbor, top-performing U. S.
Stroubridge says the return for the Los Angeles port is more than just to guard against nuclear bombs and spoilers.
"We are not just looking at this issue from the perspective of protecting terrorism," he said . ".
"But how do we maintain the port's ability to withstand catastrophic events such as earthquakes.
"Before 9/11, national port authorities usually set their own security rules, and terrorists did not really get into their sight. U. S.
The ports are mainly looking for cargo thieves, smugglers, drug trafficking and human trafficking.
In those days, it's not around the month-
Kevin Doyle, head of port security in Georgia, said Savannah's sprawling main terminal is a mile round.
Swamps and other natural barriers in these gaps are considered sufficient. Not anymore.
The fence was replaced, or installed where there was no fence before, and motion sensors were added.
Security cameras and patrol personnel monitor the surroundings of Savannah harbor around the clock.
Coast Guard crossing now
Check the list of crew members arriving at the vessel in advance against the terrorist watch list.
Customs and Border Protection bureau officials inspected similar lists of goods submitted at least the day before arrival.
They basically mark potentially suspicious cargo containers for a more careful inspection by doing what airport security officials are not allowed to do to passengers --
They use a form of analysis.
Containers from unfamiliar shippers or with unusual or suspicious goods inside may be opened for physical inspection or X-scan
Or similar imaging equipment.
And almost all cargo containers arriving in the United StatesS.
The ports are scanned for radiation, and customs officers view only a small portion of these large steel boxes by opening them or using imaging scans.
The agency did not respond to the request of The Associated Press to inquire about the percentage of cargo containers it extracted for more careful inspection.
Lisa Brown is in charge of the US port business. S.
Savannah's Customs and Border Protection agency said that the use of freight lists and techniques for virtual screening of goods enables the government to improve security without undue burden on the shipping industry.
"As our technology evolves, we also have to develop in the way we think because we have to open every container," Brown said . ".
Congress does not agree
2007 The Port Security Act includes requiring all overseas ports to transport goods to the United States. S.
Must find a way X-
By the end of next year, 100 of the goods will be shipped to the United States.
Port officials in the United StatesS.
Overseas calls this rule an unnecessary step that will increase costs, especially if the U. S.
The trading partners then asked the ports here to do the same.
Homeland Security Minister Janet Napolitano said last month that she would postpone until 2014 at the earliest, as permitted by law. Post-
9/11 concerns about port security have also prompted Congress to ask the government to conduct a stricter review of foreign investment management companies in the United States. S.
Port operations and other key infrastructure.
After regulators approved the Dubai bill, Congress angrily passed the 2007 bill.
Owned companies manage some businesses in six U. S. S. ports.
As a result of the dispute, the Dubai company sold to an American company. S.
The company operates in ports in New York/New Jersey, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Miami, New Orleans and Tampa, Florida.
Henry Willis, who studies Port Security for Rand. think-
Tank. He said he was worried about America. S.
An expensive security layer has been added to cargo ports, at the expense of other areas that are more vulnerable to terrorist attacks. The U. S.
There is evidence that the terrorists have planned a sea attack, from the explosion of the aircraft carrier Corr on 2000 to the recent discovery of Osama bin Laden's idea of capturing the tanker and blowing it up at sea.
However, Willis noted that there was no indication that terrorists were trying to smuggle bombs into the United States. S.
Port on board
Why don't they use more traditional methods, such as entering the United States, he saidS.
By land or by using boats, like drug smugglers, "We have huge gaps elsewhere," Willis said . ".
"For some security apps that are under consideration, it's similar to installing extra locks at the front door when your back door is open.