Florida Takes New Lead in Port Security

A recent state government report recommends that the Florida legislature endorse the transfer of key seaport security plans and audits from the ports to federal and state law enforcement. The report stated that current laws are confusing and costly. For example, federal laws require ports to plan against threats, even though the ports have no access to intelligence on which to base plans, and state law requires ports to protect empty fields and storage areas that pose no threat. “The existence of dual regulations - by both Florida and the federal government, has created confusion, duplication of effort and wasted financial and human resources, all of which could be put to better use enhancing seaport security,” the study indicated. “The only available threat intelligence is general in nature and found through open source material or on the U.S. Coast Guard’s Web site,” the report added. “Absent port-specific international, regional and local threat intelligence, seaports are left to speculate as to the risk they are obliged to mitigate.” The study recommends that responsibility for security standards be transferred to the Coast Guard, and that the Florida Department of Law Enforcement be “re-tasked” with developing threat intelligence.