MARINE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM NATIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL (MTSNAC)
SECURITY TEAM MEETING SUMMARY
JANUARY 13, 2003
OMNI SHOREHAM HOTEL
WASHINGTON, D.C.
1:00 PM
ATTENDEES
| NAME | REPRESENTING |
|---|---|
| Patrick Hall | National Association of Waterfront Employees |
| Joe Cox | Chamber of Shipping of America |
| Don O'Hare | World Shipping Council |
| Sam Crane | Maher Terminals |
| Scott Rainey | American Pilots' Association |
| Bill Wanamaker | American Trucking Associations |
| Harold Mesirow | Pacific Maritime Association |
| Lindsay McLaughlin | International Longsshore & Warehouse Union |
| Susan Turner | American Association of Port Authorities |
| Carol Lambos | Counsel - United States Maritime Alliance |
| Jim McCarville | Port of Pittsburgh/Inland Rivers, Ports & Terminals, Inc. (IRPT) |
| Chuck Carroll | National Association of Waterfront Employees |
| Ellen Leonard | ABS Consulting |
| Gary Dinsick | ABS Consulting |
| Carl Seiberlich | TranSystems Corp. |
| Tony Furst | Transportation Security Administration (TSA) |
| Col. George Montgomery | U.S. Military Traffic Management Command (MTMC) |
| Daniel Floyd | U.S. Customs Service |
| Richard Lolich | U.S. Maritime Administration (DOT) |
| Tom Marchessault | U.S. Department of Transportation - Office of The Secretary |
| Thomas Morelli | U.S. Maritime Administration (DOT) |
The meeting was called to order at 1:05 PM by the Chair, Patrick Hall of the National Association of Waterfront Employees (NAWE). Richard Lolich, representing the sponsor, MARAD thanked the Transportation Research Board (TRB) for making the room at the Omni Shoreham Hotel available for the meeting. He also noted that the TRB annual meeting was continuing throughout this week and that there were several other security related sessions of interest to the Security Team membership.
The minutes of the November 1, 2002 minutes were reviewed and approved with one correction regarding the vote on the Team's empty container paper.
TSA Briefing
Mr. Tony Furst of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) then briefed the team on recent events at TSA. This has been a transition year for TSA, which will officially move to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) in March of this year. There will be Memoranda of Understanding (MOA) between all of the Department of Transportation's operating administrations and TSA to ensure a smooth transition of duties. DOT will continue to work on safety related issues and DHS will concentrate on security. TSA is also working with Customs on the C-TPAT (Customs-Trade Partnership against Terrorism) which will shortly be rolled out for terminals.
The U.S. Coast Guard will begin a series of regional public meetings at the end of January to solicit public comment on the proposed Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002 port and vessel security regulations. TSA continues to work with the Coast Guard on the national Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC).
Mr. Furst indicated that the Business Practices Subgroup determined that there was no need to seal empty containers in transit, however, the Subgroup also indicated that empty containers shouldbe inspected at two points – upon entry to a marine terminal, this is standard business practice at most terminals, and prior to the loading of the empty container onto a conveyance.. He also noted that the Business Practices Working Group has been realigned, and that Bruce Carlton of MARAD, Admiral Bennis of TSA, and Assistant Commissionser Ahern of Customs are the new co-chairs.
Past Action Items
Patrick Hall advised the Team that the Empty Container Paper had been approved by the full MTSNAC at its last meeting in New York in November 2002. He noted that the Council had reviewed the draft Coast Guard Navigation and Vessel Information Circular (NVIC) on security for waterfront facilities and had approved a resolution requesting that the Secretary recommend that the Coast Guard review those issues raised with maritime stakeholders in effort to devise effective security recommendations consistent with operational realities at private sector facilities.
Susan Turner of AAPA asked about the role of MTSNAC and the Security once the Maritime Security Advisory Committee is established under the Maritime Transportation Security Act. Richard Lolich of MARAD replied that it was not yet clear what the role of the new Maritime Security Advisory Committee would be, but the MTSNAC and the Security Team would continue to advise the Secretary as required in the Council's charter.
It was also reported the MTSNAC had approved the formation of a maritime Information Sharing and Analysis Center (ISAC). Other industries have already formed ISACs and it was felt that an ISAC for the maritime sector would be beneficial.
Coast Guard Federal Register Notice concerning domestic seaport regulations consistent with SOLAS amendments
The group began a long discussion on the proposed Coast Guard regulations to incorporate SOLAS amendments into the yet to be written domestic seaport security regulations, as mandated by the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA). Under the proposed regulations each company must have a security officer and each ship must have a security officer. Security assessments and security facility surveys would also be mandated. The distinction between waterfront and port facility was raised, but there does not seem to be a common definition.
There was a consensus within the group that the proposed regulations were somewhat confusing, especially in the terminology, and that the upcoming public sessions should help clarify some of those issues. Although many of the Team members felt that the Team and/or MTSNAC should provide comments to the proposed regulations, Richard Lolich of MARAD pointed out that the charter states that the Council shall provide advice to the Secretary on MTS related issues. Therefore, it is not appropriate for the Council to comment directly on proposed government rules.
It was agreed that a smaller working group should review the proposed rules and provide input directly to the full Team and the Council. All of the Team members were encouraged to submit issues and suggestions to the sponsor for this group to review. Bill Wanamaker of ATA offered to host the first meeting of the working group. The sponsor was asked to coordinate arrangements for that meeting, to be held prior to January 27th.
The meeting was adjourned at 2:40 PM.