Canaveral Port Authority
02-12-2004, 04:25 PM
Posted by Canaveral Port Authority on October 09, 2001 at 08:17:12:
September 20, 2001
Reprinted from an article by Scott Blake in FLORIDA TODAY.
Image copyright © 2001, Craig Rubadoux, FLORIDA TODAY.
PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. - The carefree days of boating, fishing and working at Port
Canaveral have ended.
Instead, barbed-wire fences, armed guards and "no-trespassing" signs will become
familiar sights at Brevard County's seaport.
Canaveral Port Authority officials unveiled a plan Wednesday to permanently tighten
security at the port in response to last week's
terrorist attacks in New York City and
Washington, D.C.
The plan - which will cost $2 million to
implement - calls for:
24-hour-a-day/seven-day-a-week security boat patrols in the port.
Security zones in the water 25 feet around docks and 100 feet around
ships into which other vessels are not allowed.
Restricted access areas on land around cruise terminals, docks, cargo
and fuel-storage areas.
Criminal background checks and badging of all employees who work in
restricted access areas.
Construction of a fence and a guardhouse around the cargo area on the
port's north side.
Canaveral Port Authority commissioners backed the plan during their monthly
meeting Wednesday.
The port has operated under heightened security since the day after the attacks.
Checkpoints have been set up around cruise terminals when ships are in port to
screen passengers and luggage going on cruise ships. Armed guards have
been placed in cruise terminals. And a U.S. Coast Guard vessel has escorted
ships into and out of the port, among other measures.
The permanent initiatives announced Wednesday will cost about $2 million to put
into place and about another $300,000 a year to operate and maintain, said Port
Authority Executive Director Malcolm McLouth.
State or federal money could be available to pay for some of the costs, but the
Port Authority likely will have to trim spending on travel, marketing, public
relations or other expenses to pay for the increased security, McLouth said.
"This is the first time we've had a terrorist threat," he said, referring to
precautions being taken at airports and seaports around the nation in the
aftermath of last week's attacks.
"We are not considered a serious threat port," compared with big-city ports, he
said. But "that could change tomorrow."
Port Canaveral drew nearly 1.9 million cruise passengers last year, making it the
busiest cruise port in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
That number is expected to drop to 1.8 million this year because of the loss of
two smaller cruise lines from the port.
The port's cruise roster now includes four major cruise ships operated by Disney
Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean and two gambling
boats.
The criminal background checks may put some people out of a job. Workers
convicted of a felony during the past five years will not be permitted into
restricted areas, although port officials indicated some discretion will be used in
such decisions.
Earlier this year, the Port Authority started employee background checks at the
new secured cargo area on the port's south side. As a result, about five of 300
workers lost their jobs because they were found to have criminal records, port
officials said.
But the new plan will expand the areas of the port where background checks will
be required for access.
"Anyone who goes into a restricted area will be required to have a badge," said
Port Authority Assistant Director for Public Safety Jerry Simon.
September 20, 2001
Reprinted from an article by Scott Blake in FLORIDA TODAY.
Image copyright © 2001, Craig Rubadoux, FLORIDA TODAY.
PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. - The carefree days of boating, fishing and working at Port
Canaveral have ended.
Instead, barbed-wire fences, armed guards and "no-trespassing" signs will become
familiar sights at Brevard County's seaport.
Canaveral Port Authority officials unveiled a plan Wednesday to permanently tighten
security at the port in response to last week's
terrorist attacks in New York City and
Washington, D.C.
The plan - which will cost $2 million to
implement - calls for:
24-hour-a-day/seven-day-a-week security boat patrols in the port.
Security zones in the water 25 feet around docks and 100 feet around
ships into which other vessels are not allowed.
Restricted access areas on land around cruise terminals, docks, cargo
and fuel-storage areas.
Criminal background checks and badging of all employees who work in
restricted access areas.
Construction of a fence and a guardhouse around the cargo area on the
port's north side.
Canaveral Port Authority commissioners backed the plan during their monthly
meeting Wednesday.
The port has operated under heightened security since the day after the attacks.
Checkpoints have been set up around cruise terminals when ships are in port to
screen passengers and luggage going on cruise ships. Armed guards have
been placed in cruise terminals. And a U.S. Coast Guard vessel has escorted
ships into and out of the port, among other measures.
The permanent initiatives announced Wednesday will cost about $2 million to put
into place and about another $300,000 a year to operate and maintain, said Port
Authority Executive Director Malcolm McLouth.
State or federal money could be available to pay for some of the costs, but the
Port Authority likely will have to trim spending on travel, marketing, public
relations or other expenses to pay for the increased security, McLouth said.
"This is the first time we've had a terrorist threat," he said, referring to
precautions being taken at airports and seaports around the nation in the
aftermath of last week's attacks.
"We are not considered a serious threat port," compared with big-city ports, he
said. But "that could change tomorrow."
Port Canaveral drew nearly 1.9 million cruise passengers last year, making it the
busiest cruise port in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
That number is expected to drop to 1.8 million this year because of the loss of
two smaller cruise lines from the port.
The port's cruise roster now includes four major cruise ships operated by Disney
Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean and two gambling
boats.
The criminal background checks may put some people out of a job. Workers
convicted of a felony during the past five years will not be permitted into
restricted areas, although port officials indicated some discretion will be used in
such decisions.
Earlier this year, the Port Authority started employee background checks at the
new secured cargo area on the port's south side. As a result, about five of 300
workers lost their jobs because they were found to have criminal records, port
officials said.
But the new plan will expand the areas of the port where background checks will
be required for access.
"Anyone who goes into a restricted area will be required to have a badge," said
Port Authority Assistant Director for Public Safety Jerry Simon.