Port Security: Protecting Your Business from Cybercrime

Introduction 

Ports are very diverse and complicated units which have some essentially common functional characteristics. Some of the functions of a seaport include movement of freight and passengers across the waters to the land and helps in servicing the vessels by offering a place where they are received, maintained, and supplied. All over the world, the ships and cargoes of the sea are under constant threat from external players such as organized criminals. Since the attack of 9/11, the security and safety of the port have been increased as it is one of the points where the organized crimes can take place (Frittelli, 2008). The individuals that carry out these acts are involved in vices such as smuggling of people and drugs, terrorism, and cargo theft. The criminals exploit the weakness of the port to carry out these activities. This makes the associated costs to reduce the competitiveness of the individuals affected and the ports in general. As far as the threats to the maritime trade exist, port security will be an essential aspect of port operations to complement the cargo and efficient labor relations. 

Background Information 

The objectives of maritime security are as complex as the entity itself. It has vast and varied inventories, vessels, installations, crews, passengers, workers and also the public in general. The target of the security plans in the ports targets the ships moving in the seas and the land interface. Ports are a critical unit in the world economy and the transportation infrastructure. However, there has not been an inclusive regulation from the government and oversight that can be used to reinforce security in these areas. The terrorist events of 2001 in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon led to the awakening of the fact that there was a problem with security in the sea and airport and thus this impacted multiple sectors worldwide. The event led to various amendments that redefined how the security is approached and carried out. It led to the reassessment of the practices, the manner in which the rules are conducted, and the relationship between the various players in ensuring the ports are safe (Yang et al., 2014). 

The primary objective was that in future, there would be no such incidents that occur as a result of lack of security as seen on September 11, 2001 (Black, 2014). Safety or security of an entity refers to the hazards or threats against one or more units of a social scale of values. In this case, the security relates to one or more people having the aim of harming one or more aspects of the safety of citizens using specific ways such as the media, weapons, infrastructure, specialized knowledge or skill, and the environment among others. The combination of these human actors and the enabling means of execution of the plan lead to the formation of security threat. The work of security is to prevent the risk or to minimize the probability of it taking place (Yang et al., 2014). At the instance where the security threat occurs, it becomes the concern of safety. As a result, the many measures that are aimed at dealing with the security incident cannot be classified as security. In this case, the term security only refers to the work and plans put in place to identify the threats and preventing the incidents from happening. 

After the events of September 11th, 2001 that led to the deaths of many people, there was a growing concern for security. Consequently, the International Maritime Authority (IMO) came up with new security regime for the sea transport of which the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code became the cornerstone (Black, 2014). The ISPS is the amendment to the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS) convention which made to work from 2004. 

In the same regulation, maritime security is defined as the “combination of the preventive measures intended to protect shipping and port facilities against threats of intentional unlawful acts (Yeo et al., 2013).” The US also followed the steps of the IMO to implement several rules and regulations which would help in such measures. For instance, the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) and the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act of 2006 (SAFE Port 2006) were all ratified to reinforce security in the national seas, though the two acts have international elements that govern the goods that travel to the US. These regulations were designed to take care of the vulnerabilities that existed in the ships and port facilities, which could be used by the terrorists and robbers to their advantage. This paper will look at the risks and the vulnerability that the ports experience. Also, it will cover the recommendations for solving or managing these threats. 

Methodology 

The methodology used for this research paper is by reviewing various reports on sea security, and the different security plans that are contained in the same. This means that the data collection will be done for the secondary type of data that has been previously collected by the organization, regulatory authorities, and individuals. The methodology also involves the case study approach type in which a port shall be studied, and the security level and vulnerabilities reported. The other method is by analyzing the trusted web-based data that have valuable information on port security. This is because most of the organizations publish their reports online and thus this medium offers access to quality data without having to do the original collection. 

Data analysis 

The collected information was compared to the literature review and the security plans from the regulatory agencies. The theme was then found and reported. 

Discussion 

Port Security Today 

The conservative views on the responsibilities of maritime and port security have to be expanded as it involves a complicated entity. This is because of the existence of a transnational set of threats that face the international trade involving cargo movement and the maritime industry at large. These issues are complex and therefore require the input of all the interested party on the global scale. Some of these threats include robbery, terrorism, stowaways, cargo fraud and theft, smuggling of drugs, bribery, and extortion. These risks will be discussed in details in this paper. To exemplify how the sea security is a complicated issue, we look at robbery. The nature of such activities requires the security controls that take care of both the land side and the waterways access of the ports. Both the land and sea are at risk of such robberies. For instance, the criminals can choose to breach the security and steal the good already on the dock or inside the sea during the voyage. But, the discrepancies in jurisdiction authority, inadequate security equipment, and the lack of finances have led to the frustration in dealing with the issue in most countries (Frittelli, 2008). To efficiently tackle the security, there is a need to enact necessary measures and cooperation, coordination, and communication between the international commercial maritime industry and the government. The other partners in this course may include world trade community and the global economy in general. 

Function of the regulations 

The IMO enacted the ISPS to make the effect of doing the various purpose of ensuring the ports are safe for use on both local and international fronts. The regulations were designed to carry out several functions as discussed below. First, the ISPS was created to identify and evaluate the critical assets and infrastructure that is essential for protection. This means that the port buildings, installations, and the other facilities which are necessary for the security of both people and goods (McNicholas, 2016). Secondly, they were designed to identify the threats to the already defined assets and infrastructure, for the prioritization of the security measures to deal with them. After the initial step of determining the possible facilities of importance, the threats are also essential to know the level of priority for the efficient allocation of resources and energy. Thirdly, the regulations are aimed at identification, assortment, and ranking in order of importance the measures and procedural changes and their levels of acceptability in the reduction of vulnerabilities. The threats also have various means which can be used to solve the weaknesses. As a result, there needs to be the arrangement of such measures to help in understanding which one should come first in the reduction of the risks facing the port. Fourthly, the plan of security is also aimed at identifying the weaknesses facing the infrastructure, policies, and the procedures. These vulnerabilities include anything that can hinder the offering of such measures to solve the port problems, which also include human factors. The fifth function is the identification of the peripheral protection, access control and personal clearance that are required for the areas that are access restricted within the port. The other function is that the plans help in identifying the perimeter of the harbor and also the control of access where applicable and appropriate. Finally, it is aimed at the projection of the nature of the typical traffic to know the kind of movement the security plan will be dealing with. 

Threats and Issues Facing Port Security 

On the global scale, several crimes and threats face maritime cities and their surroundings. This effect is a dramatic course which is also on the increase. Some of these crimes involve theft and in-transit hijacking of the trucks from the port, and smuggling of the drugs and immigrants. These crimes are being executed by highly sophisticated and organized groups that resemble that of terrorists (McNicholas, 2016). They can exploit and distort the entire international shipping commerce. It is the responsibility of the port security departments to be prepared to tackle the various international threats that face port functions. These multiple risks and security issues together with their characteristics are discussed below. 

Maritime Terrorism 

Terrorism is one of the vulnerabilities that face any transportation system with ports included. Thus, the port security must consist of an anti-terrorism department which is vested with the task of identifying and preventing all the potential attacks. Since the attack on the World Trade Center, there has been an increased beef-up of the departments in both the maritime and aviation trades. The component of anti-terrorism in the port ensures the contention of the attack that is directed towards the facilities and the vessels that are in the jurisdiction of the port or within the territory of the waters of the state (Bateman, 2016). Similar to any other port security program, the anti-terrorism plans and implementation necessitate extensive coordination with the authorities and governments of both the national and international spectrum. At the basic level, the port must have a mechanism in which the port users can be alerted in the event of a possible terrorist attack. The awareness is essential in making sure a proper evacuation, and the protective mechanism is affected (Murphy, 2013). During the period of warning, the advisories create consciousness concerning the threats on terrorism and hence focus the attention of the industry as a whole to ensure its security. The transmission of information regarding a potential terrorist act will emanate from national or international governmental authorities that are concerned with law enforcement or intelligence. 

In countries such as the United States, there is a significant dependence on commercial shipping as the most cost-efficient and reliable method of moving goods. The US alone contributes to 20 percent of the global maritime trade (Bateman, 2016). This means the volumes of business are such massive such that the terrorist attack threat is also highly probable. When such attacks occur, mainly in major ports, the result can be disastrous in the global scale, and the effects can be felt in every corner of the world, and the global economy can be affected in the tunes of billions of dollars. The most targeted sector of the maritime industry in terrorism cases is the container cargo freight. 

Therefore port security should actively cooperate with the ocean, truck, and rail carriers and other users of the port to generate an anti-terrorist response and ensure the safety of the cargo during the transit. The port security should be concerned with the helping in the review of the threats and vulnerabilities that involve shipboard and peripheral security plans to ensure the safety of both the passengers and the freight business. In the United States, the dissemination of warning information to the maritime community is coordinated through various organizations (Yeo et al., 2013). These include Defense Mapping Agency, Secretary of Transportation's Office of Intelligence and Security, Office of Naval Intelligence, Coast Guard, Maritime Administration, and U.S. Government's Department of State. 

Sea Robbery 

Robbery in the sea is a term used to refer to the attacks on the commercial vessels in territorial waters and the ports. These acts involve armed robberies and not actual acts of piracy (which is a form of terrorism) (Murphy, 2013). The perpetrators attack the vessels and vessel crews, just the same as the ones carried out on the truck drivers in the ports. The assaults pose grave threats to maritime trade. These attacks have a wide range in which the criminals may use direct force employing heavy weapons of subterfuge in which the offenders disguise themselves over the VHF radio as the national coast guards. Such acts of criminal are conspicuous in areas where the government presence is weak and lacking both the technical resources and political will to deal with such occurrences. 

The most effective means of dealing with this issue is to prevent the initial access of the port and vessels to the criminals. Also, there should be a consistent ability to a rapid response and a sufficient notification on the breach of the security. 

Cargo Theft 

The theft of freight in transit is becoming a growing concern in the maritime business in many countries. The investigations that have been carried out have linked the robbery to transnational drug trafficking and money laundering activities. The cargo theft can lead to massive losses in a country’s commerce proceeds. In the US for instance, the losses are estimated more than 10 billion dollars. In this case, a single cargo theft is expected to be worth 500, 000 dollars (Kusi, 2015). For an active counter of the cargo theft problem, the security personnel must be familiar with the physical facilities of the port and the operation of the terminals. Also, the security personnel needs to be aware of the cargo details, including the activities that are planned for the day that involve ships, berths, and times. The other fact is to make the list of all of the cargo loss compilation in a formal system that can be used for reporting and analysis. 

Stowaways and Alien Smuggling 

Stowaways endanger the integrity of the flow of port activities and maritime commerce. The containers in transit are at times used to conspire in the organized criminal operations involving smuggling of migrants due to various reasons (Talley & Ng, 2016). The number of migrants in the global scale is increasing, and thus the probability of having stowaways is high. This leads to lost revenue and disruption of the port operations. To deal with this issue, the port security must be able to use physical access controls in the terminal facilities in the port areas, in the warehouses, vessels, and storage areas (Grech, 2016). The impediment to this security issue is the fact that there is corrupt port personnel who conspire with the stowaways to aid in their escape. Some of them are helped to gain access to ships with the aid of legal port workers, and hence the security must be able to contend the issue. 

Drug Smuggling 

Ports act as the leeway to smuggle illicit drugs whereby the schemes rely on the concealment of the narcotics in the containers. The smugglers work in liaison with the legitimate shippers or front companies (Kusi, 2015). They use bribes and manipulations to carry out their acts to ensure the containerized shipment is not revealed. The port security should be responsible for providing the facilities are not exploited by the drug smugglers. In this case, the person can use the physical security measures that include access controls, lighting, and port patrols. This effort must be a coordinated one in ensuring the active control. 

Responding To the Risks 

Security in our ports is a crucial part of ensuring the safe, secure, and modest maritime operations and in the transportation system. When a port is free from the security concerns, there is a promotion of commerce and development of international ties and is also an essential part in ensuring the competitiveness of the port, which cannot be achieved merely through modernization of the infrastructure and the facilities to increase the productivity of the operations (Talley & Ng, 2016). The port security can be a significant aspect of the negotiations that involves trade between many countries. Therefore, it is the work of the government and the industry should make a quick course of action to ensure the efficient solutions. The authorities that are caring for the port should develop means through which they can share information on the concerns of security that surrounds the port to improve the intelligence dissemination of them to the trade industry. As a result of the sharing, the safety of one port can become an international alliance of several port programs on the security which work collaboratively with all the aspects of the maritime industry. 

Industry/Government Partnership 

To solve the complex issue of maritime security, there needs to be cooperation between the government and commercial industry. The development partnerships between the law enforcement and the transport industry are of importance in ensuring participation. The transport industry includes the players of shippers, insurers, and carriers and the law enforcement include the security department of the seaport (McNicholas, 2016). The profitability of the port business and relations that involve trade are dependent on the security to move freight and people between the sea and land interface and the corridors in which the trade is carried out without interference. Therefore, the scope of security of the port extends beyond the facilities and physical infrastructure included, to other shippers, ports, insurers, intermodal transportation carriers, among others, which move along an independent network of trade. As a result of the cooperation and the partnerships, an effort economy can be achieved during the increasing degree of security that is provided to all the elements of the transport system of the sea. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, the terrorist events of 2001 in the World Trade Center and the Pentagon led to the awakening of the fact that there was a problem with security in the sea and airport and thus this impacted multiple sectors worldwide. It led to the reassessment of the practices, the manner in which the rules are conducted, and the relationship between the various players in ensuring the ports are safe. The ports are vulnerable to several threats. The individuals that carry out these acts are involved in vices such as smuggling of people and drugs, terrorism, and cargo theft. Despite the many threats, some recommendations can be used to counter these acts and above all, includes cooperation, and coordination between the various players in the national and international maritime trade. 

References

Bateman, S. (2016). Ship vulnerability, port state control: flag state responsibilities and maritime security. 

Black, L. (2014). Introduction in Japan’s Maritime Security Strategy (pp. 1-14): Palgrave Macmillan, London. 

Frittelli, J. (2008). Port and maritime security: background and issues for Congress: Port and Maritime Security, 11. 

Grech, C. (2016). Maritime security: port control and regulating stowaways. 

Kusi, B. (2015). Port Security-Threats and Vulnerabilities. 

McNicholas, M. (2016). Maritime security: an introduction: Butterworth-Heinemann. 

Murphy, M. N. (2013). Contemporary piracy and maritime terrorism: the threat to international security: Routledge. 

Talley, W. K., & Ng, M. (2016). Port economic cost functions: A service perspective. Transportation Research Part E: Logistics and Transportation Review, 88, 1-10. 

Yang, Z., Ng, A. K., & Wang, J. (2014). A new risk quantification approach in port facility security assessment: Transportation research part A: policy and practice, 59, 72-90. 

Yeo, G. T., Pak, J. Y., & Yang, Z. (2013). Analysis of dynamic effects on seaports adopting port security policy: Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 49, 285-301.