Spending Federal Security Funds Wisely

After receiving a modest federal port security grant in a recent funding round, a US port agency selected and installed an elaborate, state-of-the-art security system in compliance with federal port security regulations. However, the system implementation proved to be more difficult than originally anticipated resulting in implementation delays and un-anticipated project cost and system operation costs. If this sounds like a familiar scenario, it should, as some US ports are realizing the actual cost of implementing a federally funded project. What some ports have failed to take into account when applying for the security grants is the additional expenses associated with training and or hiring port personnel to use the system and ongoing operational costs necessary to effectively monitor surveillance, detection and control systems. For these ports, it has proven to be a valuable "lesson learned" for consideration on implementation impacts of future critical security measures.