The Coast Guard has proposed new security rules for passenger ships carrying more than 150 people, including the screening of all passengers, cargo and baggage.
Maritime industry officials, already mired in a slumping environment, are concerned the new rules could drive some companies out of business. Under a law enacted last year, many U.S. coastal facilities, ports and ships must develop security plans by July 2004 and pay for guards, alarms, cameras and metal detectors. The Coast Guard will release interim rules next month; after more public review, they will become final in the fall.
The new rules would force many domestic vessels, the nation's 361 public ports and other piers, terminals and loading docks to comply with security protocols more typically associated with ships and ports involved in international seafaring.
This would include family-owned ferries, cruise lines and riverboat casinos -- not to mention fishing boats, tugboats and mobile offshore oil drillers. Maritime industry officials are particularly worried about these groups being able to handle the cost of security upgrades.
"We understand that the costs of security can be seen as overwhelming," Coast Guard spokeswoman Jolie Shifflet told The Associated Press. "However, we do believe we'll be able to develop flexible measures to ensure that our maritime system is secure."
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