Port Authority Opens $4M Center to Aid Homeland Security

In case of a terrorist incident, the port's police department, US Coast Guard and other local, state and federal agencies will use the centrally located, 8,000-sf center as a staging ground. "This facility will give representatives from all of the law enforcement agencies such as police, FBI, customs, a place to work under one roof," says Felicia Griffin with the port authority. "There will be several law enforcement agencies on the local, state and federal level that will be able to use this facility."

The Port Coordination Center will make the Houston port among the safest in the world, Griffin says. Located away from loading and unloading areas, the building sits in an administrative area with surrounding land available for growth should other facilities be needed. Various rooms, including surveillance and interrogation rooms, are set up to accommodate the different agencies.

Since 9/11, much has been done to secure US borders with similar facilities. Consultants are in place to train personnel to be more vigilant about spotting possible dangers.

The Custom Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (CTPAT), part of the Patriot Act, is a certification process with federal guidelines that helps companies better secure their operations as well as obtain clearance for offloading at the port's docks. The Dallas-based Staubach Co. has senior consultant Nick Pacitti working with companies to help secure CTPAT certification with industry-specific requirements. "Our job is to walk people through the process before they become certified," he explains to GlobeSt.com. "It is all just part of the way we help to make America and American investments safe."

Pacitti says the roster includes all types of importers and the requirements are industry-specific. "Without certification, the load is gone over with a fine-tooth comb," he adds. "A toy company that was not certified lost business due to the time it took to be allowed to unload goods. It took so long that the toys didn't make it to the stores in time for Christmas...costing them a lot of money."