Ferries are a vital component of the U.S. transportation system and 2008 data show that U.S. ferries carried more than 82 million passengers and over 25 million vehicles. Ferries are also potential targets for terrorism in the United States and have been terrorist targets overseas. GAO was asked to review ferry security, and this report addresses the extent to which (1) the Coast Guard, the lead federal agency for maritime security, assessed risk in accordance with the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) guidance and what risks it identified; and (2) federal agencies, ferry and facility operators, and law enforcement entities have taken actions to protect ferries and their facilities. GAO reviewed relevant requirements, analyzed 2006 through 2009 security operations data, interviewed federal and industry officials, and made observations at five domestic and one international locations with varying passenger volumes and relative risk profiles. Site visits provided information on security, but were not projectable to all ports. This is the public version of a sensitive report that GAO issued in October 2010. Information that DHS deemed sensitive has been redacted. GAO recommends that the Commandant of the Coast Guard, after evaluating the completed studies on ferry security, reassess vehicle screening requirements and take further actions to enhance security, if determined warranted. DHS concurred with our recommendations.

Ferries are a vital component of the U.S. transportation system and 2008 data show that U.S. ferries carried more than 82 million passengers and over 25 million vehicles. Ferries are also potential targets for terrorism in the United States and have been terrorist targets overseas. GAO was asked to review ferry security, and this report addresses the extent to which (1) the Coast Guard, the lead federal agency for maritime security, assessed risk in accordance with the Department of Homeland Securitys (DHS) guidance and what risks it identified; and (2) federal agencies, ferry and facility operators, and law enforcement entities have taken actions to protect ferries and their facilities. GAO reviewed relevant requirements, analyzed 2006 through 2009 security operations data, interviewed federal and industry officials, and made observations at five domestic and one international locations with varying passenger volumes and relative risk profiles. Site visits provided information on security, but were not projectable to all ports. This is the public version of a sensitive report that GAO issued in October 2010. Information that DHS deemed sensitive has been redacted.

The State Dept. and two components of the Dept. of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection and the Coast Guard, are responsible for preventing illegal immigration at U.S. seaports and identifying individuals who are potential security risks. The International Labor Org. adopted the Seafarers' Identity Documents Convention (ILO 185) to establish an international framework of seafarer identification documents and reduce their vulnerability to fraud. This report examines: (1) measures fed. agencies take to address risks posed by foreign seafarers; (2) the challenges in tracking illegal entries by foreign seafarers and how DHS enforces penalties; and (3) the implementation status of ILO 185. Charts and tables. This is a print on demand report.

Sets forth practices to ensure security and foster international trade Written with an international perspective, this book analyzes the complex set of factors affecting the security of port and maritime operations, including shipping, politics, economics, crime, and terrorism. Author Michael Edgerton critiques current approaches to maritime and port security based on his more than twenty-five years of experience in the field. He not only points out vulnerabilities in today's practices, but also provides a set of proven and tested recommendations that recognize the role and interests of both government and the private sector in enhancing security while ensuring the flow of international trade. Readers may be surprised to learn that, with greater efficiency, they can actually improve security while reducing the cost of security at the same time. Using real-world case studies to support its analyses and recommendations, A Practitioner's Guide to Effective Maritime and Port Security: Reviews the core components of the international maritime operating environment Assesses the potential threats to ports in the maritime environment Examines approaches to maritime port security in the United States, European Union, and around the world Presents principles for effective, risk-based maritime and port security At the end of the book, two appendices provide a framework for conducting security risk assessments and threat assessments. There's also a third appendix to help organizations assess their "risk appetite." Recommended for students and professionals responsible for the safety and security of ports and maritime trade, this book reframes port and maritime security as a key component of a multidisciplinary system in which secure and efficient trade is the objective.