Security officials visit Tampa

Security officials visit Tampa    The commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard said in Tampa Wednesday that port security has improved significantly since the 9/11 attacks, citing gains ranging from new technology to faster boats patrolling harbors.
   Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen made the remarks in an interview with the Tampa Tribune. He was in Tampa for the Coast Guard-sponsored Innovation Expo held at the Tampa Convention Center, where private sector vendors showcased products ranging from power boats to marine security equipment.
   Allen said the Coast guard has been given ”a significant amount of new resources“ and conducted threat assessments at all ports.
   The most significant technological advance, he said, has been putting automated identification system transponders on vessels, allowing the Coast Guard to know the identity and location of incoming commercial vessels.
   He added the Coast Guard has a new generation of boats in harbors, including Tampa Bay, that are faster and easier to operate, increasing the Coast Guard's security presence.
   In addition to Allen and a number of other high-ranking Coast Guard officials visiting Tampa for the Expo, Michael Jackson, the deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, came to Tampa to present an innovation award to the local Coast Guard Office of Prevention. The Tampa office developed a new web site that allows the maritime industry to check on security measures at U.S. ports.