Last week’s multi-agency strike force operation at Georgia’s deepwater ports brought together eight different agencies with more than 80 personnel at Savannah’s Garden City, Ocean and East Coast terminals as well as Brunswick’s Colonel’s Island and Mayor’s Point facilities.
Taking point on the operation were personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection and Transportation Security Administration. They received assistance from the National Cargo Bureau, Custom’s Laboratory Science Services component, the Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration, the Federal Rail Administration and Motor Carrier Compliance and Safety.
The exercise is a culmination of partnerships that were established in 2007 with the formation of the Maritime Interagency Center for Operations in Savannah. Those partnerships between the Department of Justice, Customs and Border Patrol, the Coast Guard, TSA, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and 23 other federal, state and local agencies were established to increase information sharing and cooperation within the region.
The purpose of last week’s operation was to put a reinforced emphasis on the safety of both the containerized shipments and the trucks and rail cars used to transport the more than 8,000 container units that move through the ports and into the surrounding communities every day.
The one-day operation resulted in 107 containerized cargo inspections, 263 vehicle inspections and 371 Transportation Identification Worker Credential — or TWIC — checks, according to initial reports from the 13 teams involved.
The combined efforts identified and resolved 75 vehicle and equipment violations, resulting in 12 being placed out of service; 12 TWIC and license issues were discovered with three citations issued and seven credentials seized; and three shipment deficiencies were discovered and corrected.
Each violation detected or discrepancy corrected removed the potential for a hazardous situation on the local highways, railways and waterways as these shipments move through the community, said Lt. Marvin Kimmel, chief of response for Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Savannah.
“Over the past five years this community-driven effort built the foundation for this operation and others like it, helping to increase safety in our communities and bringing together law enforcement, emergency management, first responders and local universities — hundreds of personnel working toward a common goal,” Kimmel said.
“The strengthening of these cooperative partnerships enhances our overall awareness and assists in the development of uniform compliance and enforcement standards.
Lisa Beth Brown, area port director for Customs and Border Protection, agreed.
“This operation was another example of the strong teamwork and cooperation that exists with the interagency partners in Savannah,” she said.
“It was another opportunity for us to strengthen our relationships.”
At each of the 11 field locations, combined teams shared their agencies’ concerns and practices for conducting inspections. Additionally, the National Cargo Bureau and the Coast Guard boarded two container vessels at Garden City Terminal to conduct cargo spot checks and share examination procedures for ensuring shipments were packaged and stowed securely.
“Partnership is the key — the ability to operate at the local, state and federal levels without hesitation and in sync is no doubt a model for (all of) Homeland Security,” said Gerry Phelan, the TSA’s federal security director for Savannah.
“A significant benefit comes from the inter-agency contacts that inevitably develop during (an exercise like this).
“These contacts become invaluable for conducting future comprehensive and efficient operations.”
Senior business reporter Mary Carr Mayle covers the ports for the Savannah Morning News. She can be reached at 912-652-0324 or at mary.mayle@savannahnow.com.
SHIPPING SCHEDULE
These are the ships expected to call on Georgia Ports Authority’s Garden City and Ocean Terminals in the next week. Sailing schedules are provided by Georgia Ports Authority and are subject to change.
Terminal Ship name Arrival
GCT UASC SHUAIBA Today
GCT NYK DAEDALUS Today
GCT ZIM HAIFA Today
GCT IBRAHIM DEDE Today
GCT PRESIDENT JACKSON Today
OT TAIKO Today
GCT YM MOBILITY Saturday
GCT CORNELIA MAERSK Saturday
GCT MSC ALESSIA Saturday
GCT OAKLAND EXPRESS Saturday
GCT CMA CGM MATISSE Saturday
GCT MSC TOKYO Saturday
GCT EVER DELIGHT Saturday
GCT ST LOUIS EXPRESS Saturday
OT STAR ISFJORD Saturday
GCT DUBAI EXPRESS Sunday
GCT HANJIN SAN DIEGO Sunday
GCT MSC SHAULA Sunday
OT SANTA HELENA Sunday
GCT CONTI HARMONY Monday
GCT ZIM SHANGHAI Monday
GCT ROME EXPRESS Monday
GCT YM SINGAPORE Monday
GCT JAMES RIVER BRIDGE Monday
OT MANDARIN HARVEST Monday
GCT HANS SCHOLL Tuesday
GCT APL EGYPT Tuesday
GCT ZIM YOKOHAMA Tuesday
GCT MAERSK DRURY Tuesday
OT ATLANTIC ELAND Tuesday
OT TIRRANNA Tuesday
GCT CHEM ANTARES Wednesday
GCT MOL PRESTIGE Wednesday
GCT HYUNDAI GOODWILL Wednesday
GCT SEA-LAND MERCURY Wednesday
GCT CONRAD S Wednesday
GCT CAFER DEDE Wednesday
GCT NYK DIANA Wednesday
GCT CANADA EXPRESS Wednesday
GCT HANJIN NAGOYA Wednesday
OT TAMESIS Wednesday
GCT MSC ROMA Thursday
GCT MAERSK ROUBAIX Thursday
GCT MAERSK DANANG Thursday
GCT KIEL EXPRESS Thursday
GCT RIO THELON Thursday
GCT CMA CGM JAMAICA Thursday
GCT CSCL NEW YORK Thursday
GCT MSC BARCELONA Thursday
GCT ZIM SHENZHEN Thursday