Week six course materials and assignments

Rail and water or maritime transport could be said to be a better protector of the environment compared to road and air modes of transportation, due mainly to the amount of fuel used or burned per ton of cargo moved. Also, water or ocean vessels can provide a very diverse form of intermodal transport. Container ships have huge capacities given the standardized containers, and the larger ships being constructed today. There has been a significant amount of press coverage about ocean or water transport as being a safe mode of moving freight into the U.S. port systems. Reporters have been probing experts about the safety of our sea ports. So, you, as an expert, are to address this issue now. Your question is, "What are the challenges at these ports from a national security viewpoint? "

There are many challenges at America's seaports, specifically security related. Sea ports, unlike roads and rail, are open to outside vessels and travelers. National security entities work hard to ensure safe port operations. The U.S. uses private security contractors as well as the Department of Homeland Security resources. The threat of outside terrorist attacks grows as ports row larger and become a larger part of the global transportation infrastructure. Threats such as attack from other vessels and attacks on port structures themselves exist as well. One of the largest challenges faced by these ports in terms of security is the sheer size of the ports themselves. Each port is unique, and exists as a vulnerable part of many nations' supply chains. These ports have grown so large as to become nearly impossible to patrol and monitor effectively without hiring teams of private security contractors.