Page 29 - Port of Baltimore - May/June 2019

33 Code of Federal Regulations and the Port’s Facility Security Plan.
“Port security in Baltimore is a collaborative effort between federal, state and local agencies working with industry to ensure the safe and secure movement of goods and services,” said Cmdr. Matthew Fine, Deputy Commander
of the Coast Guard’s Sector Maryland- National Capital Region. “That cooperation is fostered through great partnerships and attendance at the monthly Baltimore Port Alliance meetings. Port Captain Joseph Loring attends these meetings to ensure that the Coast Guard shares relevant information and remains up to date on the concerns of the Port community. The Port’s partner relationships within Baltimore are exceptional and serve as an example for other areas.”
Chief Petty Officer Kerry Bolen, Sector Maryland-National Capital
Region Port Safety and Security Supervisor, added: “The Port provides vast opportunities for the training of our members due to the variety of cargo they ship and receive. On a weekly basis, we are at the container terminal working with MDOT MPA and Ports America to ensure the proper carriage of hazardous materials and the safe storage of general and HAZMAT containers.
“In May, Sector Maryland-National Capital Region staff conducted a Multi-Agency Strike Force Operation (MASFO), involving 12 other federal, state and local agencies, such as
the MDOT MPA, (MDTA Police)
and MDOT, verifying compliance
with the shipping of goods, required inspections, Transportation Worker Identification Credentialing (TWIC) validation and security posturing at Seagirt and Dundalk terminals. Without the valuable relationships developed between the Coast Guard and all of
our Port partners, we could not be successful in having a full picture of the maritime transportation system.”
In addition, Espie’s office works with U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) on a frequent basis. The Port ensures customs personnel can access required space around the terminals
to perform their jurisdictional duties, which touch upon all facets of the Port’s operations, including cargo movement and cruise ship passengers.
U.S. COAST GUARD PHOTO BY AUXILIARIST GARY MCGINNIS
U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 2nd Class Jeffrey Benita, Container Inspector from Sector Maryland-National Capital Region in Baltimore puts a “Do not ship, move or reload this container” sticker on the back of a container at the Port of Baltimore, May 7, 2019. The inspection was part
of the Multi-Agency Strike Force Operation (MASFO), which involved 12 other federal, state and local agencies, including MDOT MPA, MDTA Police and MDOT, in verifying compliance with the shipping of goods, required inspections, Transportation Worker Identification Credentialing (TWIC) validation and security posturing at Seagirt and Dundalk terminals.
“Most importantly, we assist as necessary to ensure all outbound container traffic is screened by radiation portal monitors,” Espie said.
CBP officers work with other
federal and local law enforcement partners to detect and deter national threat networks, including attacking the threat posed by fentanyl and opioids
to residents in and around Baltimore. One example of this partnership was a multi-agency initiative led by Homeland Security Investigations, including CBP Baltimore and the U.S. Postal Inspectors, which was established to identify, inspect and seize drug-laden international mail parcels shipped from overseas to Maryland. This initiative resulted in the arrest of a dark web vendor and the seizure of pill presses and illicit narcotics.
“Collaborating with all of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners in Maryland improves the safety and security of our vital local economic drivers — BWI Airport and
the Port of Baltimore — and to a larger extent, the community in which we live and work,” said CBP Area Port Director Adam Rottman.
CBP participates in multi-agency enforcement operations with its Port partners and other entities. For example, CBP holds random safety and security compliance examinations, which bring together numerous agencies, including the MDTA, Baltimore City Police, Maryland State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Transportation Security Administration and Federal Air Marshals, among others.
“CBP works very closely with all of our Port stakeholders,” Rottman said. “We have formed several partnerships in an effort to better leverage our shared resources in detecting and interdicting illicit activities as well as working to close any vulnerability gaps. CBP participates in regular meetings with these same stakeholders on a variety of topics, including emergency planning.” 􏰀
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