Public/Private Project on Port Security

As promised, I will start to post about port security measures and programs utilizing new and emerging technology to help help reduce the increasingly publicized venerable nature of our nation's ports.

First up is a Public/Private initiative called Operation Safe Commerce. A summary of the program is provided by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which is also one of the participants:

Operation Safe Commerce (OSC), is a federally funded program that will conduct vulnerability assessments of sample supply chains and serve as a test-bed for new business processes and security technologies to increase the security of container shipments -- from the point of origin throughout the supply chain to the point of destination. The ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach, New York/New Jersey and Tacoma/Seattle -- the nation's top three major load centers -- will work with private and public entities to identify supply chain vulnerabilities and develop improved methods and technologies to ensure the security of cargo entering and leaving the United States.

Those technologies and processes that prove successful and cost efficient under the OSC initiative will then be recommended for implementation throughout the maritime industry.

Although this program began in 2003, its goal of providing a testing ground for methods and technologies to improve security is only starting to be realized.  Hopefully, we will see some best practices and technology initiatives come out of this program.