GAO: DEFENSE NEEDS MORE OVERSIGHT WHEN USING COMMERCIAL CARRIERS

GAO: DEFENSE NEEDS MORE OVERSIGHT WHEN USING COMMERCIAL CARRIERS    A recent U.S. General Accounting Office report said the Defense Department needs to increase security of military equipment placed on commercial vessels for transport overseas.
   “Although consistent with current DoD policies and procedures, this practice limits DoD’s ability to provide security oversight,” the GAO said. “As a result, equipment could fall into the hands of individuals or groups whose interests are counter to those of the United States.”
   GAO developed the report at the request of Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., chairman of the House Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans Affairs, and International Relations.
   “While we recognize there are times during a deployment when DOD will relinquish direct control of its equipment, the new security environment warrants that DoD re-evaluate its current policies and procedures to ensure that appropriate security measures are applied during these times.”
   The Defense Department said it had to use commercial carriers to move large volumes of equipment overseas because of the insufficient amount of U.S. government-owned vessels available.
   However, the Defense Department agreed with the GAO’s findings that more needs to be done to increase security, especially when using foreign-flag vessels. The department told the GAO that the U.S. Transportation Command and the new U.S. Northern Command will continue to study ways to improve security of its cargo on commercial ships, including the use of satellite tracking and onboard security personnel.
   “On those occasions when DoD transfers custody of its equipment to non-DoD carriers, the kinds of additional measures DoD discussed should help improve the overall security of sensitive DoD cargoes,” the GAO said.
   The GAO, which cited security gaps with the handling of military cargo through U.S. commercial seaports, said implementation of the 2002 Maritime Transportation Security Act should help to better secure this freight.
   The departments of Defense and Transportation have designated 17 seaports as “strategic” in the event of a large-scale military deployment.
   “These ports are therefore vital to national security,” the GAO said. “If the strategic ports (or the ships carrying military supplies) were attacked, not only could massive civilian casualties be sustained, but DOD could also lose precious cargo and time and be forced to rely heavily on its overburdened airlift capabilities.”