PROTECTING OUR PORTS: Domestic and International Politics of Containerized Freight Security

摘要

This academic work addresses a subject of increasing concern, especially in the decade since 9/11, for the officials charged with homeland security and the ports and shipping companies that handle the containers delivering most of the international trade worldwide. The threat of terrorism, including the prospect of weapons of mass destruction, has created serious challenges in protecting ports without creating unacceptable drag on the flow of seaborne commerce. The authors analyze the political, economic and security issues regarding containerized freight, and the programs implemented by government agencies and commercial entities to protect trade while ensuring the safety of the transportation modes. The authors conclude that more work is needed to address the security of the cargo entering U.S. ports.