The Duluth Seaway Port Authority was notified Dec. 10 that it will receive a Port Security Grant of $400,600 to help offset the costs of meeting new Maritime Transportation Security Act requirements.
"Congressman James L. Oberstar's assistance was vital in obtaining the funds," said Duluth Port Director Adolph Ojard. "It proves once again he is a dedicated supporter of this Port."
The funds are part of the Transportation Security Administration's Port Security Funding Grant Program in fiscal year 2004 Homeland Security appropriations bill and will be administered through Maritime Administration.
The program provides resources for security planning and projects to improve dockside and perimeter security, which are vital to securing our critical national seaports, said Secretary of Homeland Security Tom Ridge.
"Although the Duluth Seaway Port Authority took immediate and dramatic steps after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks to tighten port security at its own expense, the Coast Guard's final regulations regarding port facility security set forth requirements beyond the scope of normal operations," said Ojard.
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"The huge financial expense of implementing new security systems and programs had us concerned that we would only be able to meet minimum requirements. We will now be able to comply with the July 1 deadline for port facility security improvements, but it should be noted that this in no way will bear the full expense of port security requirements," he said.
The Transportation Security Administration, the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Transportation's Maritime Administration evaluated the Port Security grant applications and selected the grant award recipients. The latest round of grants were awarded to 442 projects in 326 locations to 235 applicant organizations.
