Security Debrief

Today’s USA Today features a compelling video on the Port of Savannah.  This port, like many ports in America is suffering tremendously from the economic slump.  As the video’s moderator explains, the port has seen a major drop in the number of cargo containers flowing through the facility—in sharp contrast to the double digits increases that had occurred in previous years.  While the Port insists that it has not had to lay any employees off as of yet, it has tightened its budget to the point where that may be the only option.

Given these challenges to America’s ports, it seems illogical to implement the 100 percent scanning mandate.  This policy would negatively impact both business owners and port operators—causing logjams in the supply chain–and stopping products from getting from point A to point B.

In my WebMemo, Scanning for Common Sense: Congressional Container Security Mandate Questioned, I question the need for the 100 percent scanning mandate for maritime cargo.  I list a number of concerns over the mandate –mentioning specifically trade concerns—which might further the problems experienced by the Port of Savannah and other ports around the country.

In today’s economic climate, Congress needs to be looking for policies that promote trade and make the supply chain more efficient—100 percent scanning is quite the opposite.