Port authorities awarded increased security funds

Port of Los Angeles is one of 40 port authorities to be awarded funding. (Credit: Port of Los Angeles)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) released its funding allocations for the Fiscal Year 2023 (FY2023) Port Security Grant Program (PSGP) awards, which will be distributed to 40 port authorities along with numerous terminal operators, municipalities, and policing entities for enhancing and protecting critical port infrastructure.

Though port authorities did not receive the full amount requested, they did receive a markedly greater share of funding this year; $35.2 million, or over 35 percent of this year’s awards, compared to 30.5 percent last year. This follows an upward trend starting in FY2021.

“FEMA’s Port Security Grant Program is a critical source of funds for ongoing efforts to harden and protect our nation’s seaports from increasingly more sophisticated threats from bad actors,” said AAPA President and CEO Chris Connor. “AAPA thanks FEMA, Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Katie Britt (R-AL), and Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH) and Henry Cuellar (D-TX) for prioritizing and supporting the security of our nation’s seaport,” referring to the relevant appropriators.

PSGP funds projects to help protect critical port infrastructure from terrorism, enhance maritime domain awareness, improve port-wide security risk management, and maintain or re-establish maritime security mitigation protocols that support port protection, recovery, and resiliency capabilities.

This year, FEMA gave priority consideration to projects enhancing protection against cyber vulnerability as well as the susceptibility of soft targets and crowded places.

In mid-July, Duane Davis, who runs the Port Security Grant Program at FEMA spoke to AAPA’s Security Committee members at our Smart Ports Conference in Boston. As part of a robust discussion, he provided valuable insight on how best to take advantage of the Program’s preference for cybersecurity projects and FEMA’s implementation of the Build America, Buy America Act.

The following AAPA member ports received direct funding. Ports may also have received funding through their tenants, police and fire services, and state and local governments.

Port of Long Beach – $2,722,875
Port of Los Angeles – $2,093,901
Port of San Diego – $1,977,000
Port of Oakland – $663,000
Port of Redwood City – $504,611
Port of Stockton – $499,039
PortMiami – $1,347,368
Port Everglades – $1,170,810
Port Tampa Bay – $505,450
Georgia Ports Authority – $1,000,000
Port of Guam – $124,779
Port of Honolulu – $364,005
Plaquemines Port – $2,304,825
Port of New Orleans – $947,280
Port of South Louisiana – $1,423,424
St. Bernard Port and Harbor – $804,736
Massport – $123,000
North Carolina State Ports Authority – $1,230,492
South Jersey Port Corporation – $139,814
Port of Orange – $644,501
Port Freeport – $529,500
Port of Corpus Christi Authority – $2,312,500
Port of Texas City – $108,908
Port of Beaumont – $228,310
Port of Port Arthur – $2,183,164
Port of Virginia – $1,112,625
Port of Everett – $86,227