NY & NJ sticks on port security and development

"Through the 911 terror attacks, most Americans got to know how vulnerable ports are to terror. They also realized how much sea transportation influences their real lives in the wake of the US west coast port lock-outs."

On their first visit to Korea after the 911 terror attacks, delegates from New York and New Jersey (NY& NJ) ports held a press conference on the importance of port security.

Recovered from direct damage of 911 (they moved their head office to Park Avenue South from the World Trade Center), the Port Authorities of NY & NJ showed an 8.5% cargo increase during the first 9 months this year. Air-borne cargoes, however, decreased 9% in the same period.

Mr. Butcher, Chief Operating Officer of the NY& NJ ports explained that after 911 air plane passengers decreased remarkably, causing carried-cargoes to drop. Also, marine-borne cargoes and air-borne cargoes showed different characteristics, i.e., air-borne cargoes are usually high-priced and require quick delivery.

Mr. Larrabee, director of the port commerce department, mentioned 'manifests 24 hours before cargo is loaded in a foreign port' as a way to improve the port security program. The US Customs Service and the Coast Guard requested that shipping lines provide the Customs Service with manifests 24 hours before cargo is loaded in foreign ports.

Though not knowing how to figure out the problems by introducing a new port security program, they just predicted the time needed to fix it.

NY & NJ ports also would introduce Operation Safe Commerce with help of federal funding. The program will analyze individual supply chains to look for points of vulnerability and subsequently recommend appropriate changes to business processes and the possible introduction of new technology.

The Port Authority of NY & NJ also plans to invest 40 million - 60 million dollars on developing ports. They will dredge channels deeper, add more wharfs on the Howland Hook Marine Terminal, and provide an interim rail yard for the P&O Ports container terminal. The port will also expand its container yard to accommodate more container cargoes.

Especially, rail service expansions show NY & NJ is reducing container trucks in and out of ports, which accounts for 87% of total containers.

"We thank our Korean customers for having stuck by the port through a difficult time. We will keep focusing port security and developing it. " Mr. Butcher concluded. NY & NJ handled a total of 3.32 million containers and 550 thousand motor vehicles in 2001.