Houston port weighs security fees

Houston port weighs security fees    Commissioners for the Port of Houston Authority will consider issuing surcharges to cover security costs at a meeting Monday. If the port security fee is approved all vessels, including barges, would be assessed an additional five percent of total dockage charges per port call.
   Cargo would be assessed at the following rates: breakbulk, 10 cents per ton; bulk, 2 cents per ton; containers, $2 per ton; and vehicles at $1 per ton.
   The commission will also vote on whether to approve a $1.2 million contract for Science Applications International Corp. to provide a mobile communications center. The cost of the unit is mostly covered by a grant received last year from the Department of Homeland Security.