New Jersey details port security funding

New Jersey details port security funding New Jersey’s Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (OHSP) has been awarded almost $11 million in federal port security grants.
   The funds will be used to bolster security in port areas both in northern and southern New Jersey, said Richard L. Ca'as, director of the agency.
   Ca'as said OHSP was awarded more than $7.9 million, out of a total $27.3 million for the New York-New Jersey port region. This represents the largest single grant for this port.
   In addition, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was awarded almost $4.8 million, a portion of which will be spent on security projects that will benefit New Jersey.
   In the Delaware Bay region made up of ports in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, Ca'as said OHSP was awarded almost $3.1 million, the largest single grant of a total of nearly $13.3 million provided to the port region.
   Camden City received $1.5 million in grants to its police and fire departments and four private energy companies received a total of $242,500.
   Ca'as said that among a variety of initiatives, OHSP will use its grants to help prevent attacks against ships and port facilities from improvised explosive devices. Funds will be used to purchase underwater detection devices, as well as technology for maritime law enforcement officers, such as night-vision goggles and GPS tracking devices.
   In addition, OHSP will use funds for training for emergency personnel and law enforcement officers from areas surrounding maritime facilities, because they may be called to respond to incidents at ports. The grant funds will also support a regional Philadelphia fusion center that will cover the port and efforts to implement the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program.
   DHS also announced several other infrastructure protection awards. Under the 2007 intercity bus security grant program, 11 private bus companies that operate in New Jersey will share $3.43 million.
   In addition, as part of the 2007 ferry security awards, the Cape May-Lewes Ferry received $155,807, and four ferry companies in the New York-New Jersey harbor are sharing more than $1.5 million to effect security enhancements.