CANADA UNVEILS MARINE SECURITY PROGRAM

CANADA UNVEILS MARINE SECURITY PROGRAM    The Canadian government announced plans this week to create a five-year C$172.5 million ($113.2 million) program of projects to improve maritime transportation security in the nation’s ports.
   “These initiatives demonstrate the government of Canada’s commitment to enhancing marine security since the events of Sept. 11, 2001,” said Canadian Transport Minister David Collenette at a press conference at the Port of Halifax on Jan. 22.
   Six federal government departments and agencies will carry out the marine security projects. The projects include:
   *Increasing surveillance and tracking of maritime traffic, including “near real-time” identification and tracking of vessels in Canadian waters.
   *Screening passengers and crew on ships.
   *Installing new detection equipment in ports to screen containers for radiation.
   *New funding for the emergency rapid response teams and establishment of permanent investigator positions at major ports.
   *Enhancing collaboration and coordination between government departments and agencies.
   *Making further improvements to port security by creating restricted access areas and worker background checks.
   *Developing and implementing new security requirements in line with the recent recommendations of the International Maritime Organization.
   The Canadian government attributes a number of these projects to ongoing analysis by its Interdepartmental Marine Security Working Group, which was formed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. The concern among security experts is that terrorists may attempt to use cargo vessels and equipment to smuggle weapons of mass destruction to North America.
   Some projects already underway include:
   *Requiring advanced notice of vessels entering Canadian waters 96 hours prior to arrival.
   *Introducing new boarding protocols to improve the response to any threats before ships arrive in Canadian ports.
   *In partnership with the U.S. government, creating enhanced security screening procedures for ships entering the Great Lakes-St.Lawrence Seaway system.
   *Working with international partners to develop new international maritime security requirements.
   The Canadian government plans to install C$9.5 million ($6.2 million) in new gamma ray technology in its major ports during the next five years. The Canada Customs and Revenue Agency will purchase and operate Vehicle and Cargo Inspection Systems (VACIS). So far the agency has bought 11 VACIS units, which are truck-mounted mobile scanning systems that scan an image of contents in a marine container, rail car or truck.
   “This new state-of-the-art technology provides operators of the equipment with an image similar in many ways to an X-ray,” Transport Canada said. “It will further assist customs officers to examine densely loaded containers and detect suspected contraband, weapons, and other potentially dangerous goods.”
   In 2000, Canadian international maritime trade, including traffic between Canada and the United States, was valued at more than $100 billion. Canada’s top container ports are Halifax, Montreal and Vancouver. Martinelli resigns as Canal Authority chairman    The Panama Canal Authority has announced that Ricardo B. Martinelli resigned Jan. 20 as chairman of the Canal Authority’s Board of Directors, and as Minister for Canal Affairs.
   Martinelli had served as chairman since September, 1999. Alberto Aleman Zubieta, administrator of the Canal Authority, said that Panama’s president, Mireya Moscoso, will shortly appoint a successor.