Addressing Port Security

Press Release

Riki Parikh

Governor Warner was in Norfolk on Monday, and spoke before a group of business leaders and port officials during a conference hosted by the nonprofit Commonwealth Homeland Security Foundation. He took the opportunity to talk about the need, in a post-9/11 world, for improving security at our nation's ports.

Though Virginia's ports are seen as a "national leader when it comes to security improvements," Governor Warner said additional steps were need to secure all of our ports and related infrastructure because it is "so vital to Virginia and our nation's economic well-being."
Here's why:

Eighty percent of the world's trade travels by water, making ports the linchpin of global commerce. Currently, U.S. ports handle approximately 20 percent of all maritime trade worldwide. Here in Virginia, the Hampton Roads port region is not only a vital commercial center for Virginia, but also for the nation as well. It serves as the home to the APM/Maersk Terminal and the Port of Virginia. The Port of Virginia alone is responsible for 345,000 jobs in Virginia - and generates over $40 billion in business revenues.

Virginia has made good progress in beefing up port security. We're already working with federal, state, local, military, and private sector partners, and the Port of Virginia has made tremendous progress, including a radioactivity check for all of the containers that leave the Port.

Here's how Governor Warner said we need to address the threats:

But the terrorists that seek to disrupt and destroy our way of life understand that our economic viability is one of its essential components.

And ports and their infrastructure, the containers and cargo, as well as our broader system of intermodal connectivity, present a tempting target.

And potential weapons could range from everything from basic explosives to sophisticated nuclear, biological, and chemical devices that could shut down the port or wreak havoc at the cargo's ultimate destination.

We must work together to detect, deter, and disrupt hostile acts before they happen, while also—in the event of an attack—instituting measures that enhance resiliency, response, and rapid recovery.

The solution: greater public-private collaboration, through organizations like the Commonwealth Homeland Security Foundation.

The Foundation's goal is for Virginia to lead the nation in a new direction for finding resources for homeland security and preparedness. The Foundation will provide the resources for scholarly research that will help improve Virginia's emergency preparedness programs.

This will help us fill gaps where federal or state funds are not available. And it will allow individuals and corporations to contribute, which will in-turn fund projects to make the entire Commonwealth more secure.

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