Liner shipping is that division of maritime shipping that provides regular service based on defined schedules and fixed itineraries. It is a source of some one billion and above jobs in US and is a great source of revenue for the economy.
For the last 6 and half years the American Coast guard has taken enhanced measures to increase the maritime cargo security. However due to the enhanced security measures taken by the American coast guard, there is significant delay to the flow of cargo which could actually cause vastly adverse effects to the economy.
Every shipping vessel that arrives in the US coastal waters has to go through some mandatory checks. It has to provide an arrival notice 96 hours prior to its arrival. This notice has to include a complete list of crew members who should have a US visa to land at the U.S. port.
The coast guard has stated that the maritime security threat can't be restricted to a single vector. In fact other than cargo vessels other maritime activity too is at a security risk.
A new notice of proposed rulemaking by the coastguard supports long range information and tracking of vessels by the coast guard which will result in enhanced visibility of vessels offshore.
The 9/11 commissions recommendations act requires overseas radiation and NII inspection of all cargoes bound for the US. According to this statute containers should be run through radiation detection equipment and non-intrusive imaging equipment before vessel loading.
If there is strict vigilance against terrorist attack risks and prudent security measures are adopted and they are constantly enhanced to stay updated for future security risks the threat of terrorist attacks can be abated to some extent.
The shipping industry has welcomed these enhanced security measures by the coast guard and has decided to comply with most of the measures to combat the enhanced threat of terrorist attacks.
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