CBP: Securing US Trade Through Maritime Ports - Essay Sample

Introduction

The CBP is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security that regulates trade within the ports. It plays a major role in securing trade in maritime ports. The primary role of CBP is to fight terrorism and ensuring that the borders are secure (Jones & Rosenblum, 2013). It also ensures a steady flow of goods into the country through the ports. The CBP enforces rules and regulations which protect the citizens. It imposes taxes and collects revenues on imports. It also plays the role of promoting International Trade and preventing the entry of illegal drugs and weapons into the country. The agency has encountered several maritime challenges. Terrorist attacks are one of the major problems facing the CBP. There have been several attacks in previous years. These attacks cause death and disruptions that affect the country's economy. Other maritime challenges include money laundering, human trafficking, and illegal drug trafficking.

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The Homeland Security Act of 2002

The department of Homeland Security was established to enhance security in the country. The Homeland Security Act sanctioned the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and other measures to promote national security. It has fortified the security of Customs and Border Protection against terrorist attacks in all parts of the country. The act has helped the CBP in developing strategies to prevent future attacks. The Homeland Security Act plays a major part in improving infrastructure and protecting the environment from pollution. It has provided measures to deal with emergencies and providing a better economy. It tends to find the areas associated with risks and finds better solutions to manage the risks. The Act has been undertaken to ensure that all vehicles are being inspected to prevent drug trafficking and illegal immigration.

The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002

Experts warn that an attack on the US ports can not only cause local damage and death but also cripple global maritime commerce (Frittelli, 2008). The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 is legislation established to protect the seaports from such terrorist attacks which have a global effect. MTSA provides rules and regulations which must be adhered to by the maritime industry. All Shipping companies must abide by the laws to keep citizens safe. Below are the approaches to security that MTSA has employed to ensure security.

Facility and Vessel Vulnerability Assessments

The Facility and Vessel Vulnerability Assessments involve the evaluation of vessels and facilities to identify high-risk vessels. This assessment is done to identify the threats and weaknesses facing seaport vessels. The facility owner is required to undertake a self-assessment and create a risk management plan (Haveman & Shatz, 2006). The government takes part in this practice to prevent terrorist attacks. This assessment helps in evaluating the risk aspects in ports.

Transportation Security Cards

The secretary of Homeland Security conducts an assessment of the transportation security program to prevent individuals who do not have these Cards from accessing a vessel. These cards are to be issued to U.S facility owners and the workers. The U.S government will perform the process of issuing Cards to the workers to access the transportation sector. National background checks will be included in the issuance process.

Vessel and Facility Security Plans

The Vessel and Facility Security Plans rule provides security measures for vessels and facilities in the ports. This regulation requires the facility owners to provide security plans based on previous assessments and implement these measures in their operations for safety in the seaports. These measures include personnel identification, passenger and baggage screening, installation of security monitoring equipment and security patrol.

Automatic Identification Systems (AIS)

The Maritime Transportation Security Act was sanctioned to impose regulations pertaining to the vessels to establish the performance standards for the Automatic Identification System. The Automatic Identification System will send the vessel's information to other containers and the agencies for safety. It will allow the monitoring of vessels in the seas. This measure will develop communication systems and increase security in the shipping industry. It will be installed in all facilities which operate in U.S waters. The AIS act will develop predictability on the waters and enhance security in the ports.

Maritime Safety and Security Teams

Marine Safety and Security Teams is an antiterrorism team of the U.S established to prevent terrorism (Firestone & Corbett, 2002). It comprises guards who respond directly to threats on air, ground and the sea. The guards collaborate with the US customs service and the Immigration and Nature Service to improve the collection of information from people and vessels through the American maritime transportation system. The team was established to deal with terrorist attacks thus improving port security.

The Maritime Transportation Security Act has improved safety in the waters and ensured uniform tracking technology on vessels (Firestone & Corbett, 2002). It has also provided sufficient transportation worker identification credential regulations. In the past, the sea has been considered to be a dangerous working environment owing to crimes against humanity. Several countries have put great effort into making changes to provide safe working conditions in the ports. The transportation industry has developed over the years. The Global Maritime Transportation system will have a positive change in the future as a result of evolutionary factors such as increased international trade, development of infrastructure and security in the seaports across the world and mitigation of revolutionary factors such as terrorist attack and drug trafficking.

The United States has developed techniques to curb terrorism due to increased terror attacks in the country and other nations. Through the advancement of technology, the government has developed strategies for customs and border protection. There are several inventions in the country which enhance security in the ports. For instance, it has invented The Container Security Initiative which prevents containers from terrorist attacks. (Romero, 2003). The demand for increased security in ports will be satisfied by the Invention of digital surveillance Cameras and minimizing the impact of threats. These developments in the shipping industry will promote the Global Maritime Transportation system in the future and enhance international trade.

The major issue in The Maritime Transport System is security. Nations have complied and implemented international conventions to address this problem. Through international cooperation, countries can join together and implement international instruments concerning maritime security. The presence of rules and regulations which are set to control trade will ensure fair trade and prevent illegal drug trafficking in the future. Organizations such as the World Trade Organization and the World Customs Organization have established activities that have led to the growth and development of global standards that recognize the nature of border management. (Widdowson, 2007). Thus, the efforts of WTO and WCO to maintain border protection and management will help mitigate illegal immigration.

Conclusion

The Customs Border Protection, the Homeland Security Act 2002 and the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 will provide better working conditions in the transportation industry. This will, in turn, cause a plunge in terrorism, drug and human trafficking and illegal immigration. The Security and Border Protection Acts will promote trade, enhance development in the economy and boost security.

References

Firestone, J., & Corbett, J. (2002). Maritime Transportation: A Third Way for Port and Environmental Security. In Widener L. Symp. J. (Vol. 9, p. 419). Retrieved from https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/wlsj9&section=27

Frittelli, J. F. (2008). Maritime Security: Overview of Issues. Port and Maritime Security, 43.Retrieved from https://apps.dtic.mil/dtic/tr/fulltext/u2/a467149.pdf

Haveman, J. D., & Shatz, H. J. (2006). Protecting the Nation's Seaports: Balancing Security and Cost. Retrieved from https://www.ppic.org/content/pubs/report/R_606JHR.pdf

Jones, V. C., & Rosenblum, M. R. (2013). US Customs and Border Protection: Trade Facilitation, Enforcement, and Security. Retrieved from https://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/key_workplace/1041/

Romero, J. (2003). Prevention of Maritime Terrorism: The Container Security Initiative. Chi. J. Int'l L., 4, 597. Retrieved from https://heinonline.org/hol-cgi-bin/get_pdf.cgi?handle=hein.journals/cjil4&section=41

Widdowson, D. (2007). The Changing Role of Customs: Evolution or Revolution. World Customs Journal, 1(1), 31-37. Retrieved from https://worldcustomsjournal.org/Archives/Volume%201,%20Number%201%20(Mar%202007)/00%20Complete%20Issue%20WCJ_Volume_1_Number_1.pdf#page=39