Discussion Questions: The Global Transportation System (GTS) includes a maritime component. Explain the key elements of this mode of transportation to include methods, intermodal connections and impact. What is the impact of a disruption? Describe the key attributes of the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002. How has this law impacted the overall governance of security within the 360 ports within the United States?
Articles for weekly assignment:
MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR MARITIME SECURITY: https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publicatio…
The Ongoing Transformation of the Global Transportation System: https://www.volpe.dot.gov/events/transforming-tran…
A CONCEPT OF A SUSTAINABLE MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM: http://www.imo.org/en/About/Events/WorldMaritimeDa…
Implementing just-in-time inventory management: https://www.bdc.ca/en/articles-tools/operations/in…
Instructions: Fully utilize the materials that have been provided to you in order to support your response. Your initial post should be at least 350 words. Please respond to at least two other students. Responses should be a minimum of 150 words and include direct questions. You may challenge, support or supplement another student’s answer using the terms, concepts and theories from the required readings. Also, do not be afraid to respectfully disagree where you feel appropriate; as this should be part of your analysis process at this academic level.
Forum posts are graded on timeliness, relevance, knowledge of the weekly readings, and the quality of original ideas. Sources utilized to support answers are to be cited in accordance with the APA writing style by providing a general parenthetical citation (reference the author, year and page number) within your post, as well as an adjoining reference list. Refer to grading rubric for additional details concerning grading criteria.
Student #1 Gerald
The Global Transportation System (GTS) includes a maritime component. Explain the key elements of this mode of transportation to include methods, intermodal connections and impact. What is the impact of a disruption? Describe the key attributes of the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002. How has this law impacted the overall governance of security within the 360 ports within the United States?
Professor and Classmates,
This week’s discussion will be on the Global Transportation System (GTS), its significance and components. In lay-man’s terms the GTS is the network of infrastructure that facilitates the movement of people, products and resources around the world. The GTS is comprised of four main elements; the Air, Land, Rail and Sea elements each with its own unique challenges and benefits. The focus of this week’s discussion will be on the Maritime or ‘Sea’ component and as such we will further discuss the unique security challenges that face this component of the GTS.
The Marine Transportation System (MTS) is comprised of five components with each being dependent on the next to get the desired product to the end user in a timely manner. These five components are Ports, Navigable water ways, Intermodal Connections, Vessels and the end user (Committee on the Marine Transportation System, 2008, p.15-18). Ports are the primary receiving and launch points for the Vessels of the MTS, the Navigable Water Ways could be considered the ‘roads’ or ‘highways, and the Intermodal Connections serve as transfer points to and from different modes of transportation such as ground to water or water to rail.
The MTS forms a significant portion of the Transportation Systems Sector under the Department of Homeland Security’s Critical Infrastructure Program whereby infrastructure deemed critical to the nations wellbeing is categorized into sectors and again into subsectors. This program aims to secure critical infrastructure by suggesting and where it can dictating certain precautions to be made for the security of the whole as well as the sharing of knowledge and best practices. This being said little explanation should be required to explain the importance of protecting such an important piece of infrastructure from attack or as a conduit to attack the interior.
One of the driving forces behind these significant changes was the 9/11 attacks and the subsequent actions taken by the U.S. government to prevent further such attacks. One of these actions was The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, this was a sweeping change to the way business was done concerning the Marine Transportation System and as a result the system benefits from such security features as controlled access cards for ships and ports, as well as for the U.S. to subject foreign vessels from states with questionable port security to additional security checks or flat out refusal to enter port (107th Congress, 2002, p11, 18).
Works Cited
107th Congress (2002). MARITIME TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ACT OF 2002. PUBLIC LAW 107–295. Retrieved from https://www.congress.gov/107/plaws/publ295/PLAW-10…
Committee on the Marine Transportation System (2008). National Strategy for the Marine Transportation System: A Framework for Action. Retrieved from https://www.cmts.gov/downloads/national_strategy_m…
Student #2 Austin
The maritime component of the Global Transportation System (GTS), is a large complex system of logistical assets, used to transport goods by sea. This includes methods of transportation used to move goods to and from ports, waterways that connect large bodies of water, and the marinas and ports that house and transfer goods. The range of different companies, individuals, governments, countries, etc. can encompass multiple industries and levels of government. The players involved include insurance companies, construction, vessel owners, ports, security, etc. With so many entities involved in the maritime component, the component “is subject to a complex array of policies and regulations” (International Maritime Organization). With this being said, regulations vary from country to country, and disputes can disrupt the economy that relies on these shipping lines.
Considering that the United States operates over 300 ports across the U.S. as well as waterways within the continental U.S. and thousands of smaller sea hubs for transport vessels, the industry has openings for disruption. The Maritime Transportation System (MTS), brings in billions of tax dollars for the United States, equates for the vast majority of global transportation, and supplies over 10 million jobs in the United States. A minor disruption in the continuity of these shipping lines could have a major negative economic impact on the United States. This also leaves open the possibility of the lack of critical supplies that are shipped to the United States through this maritime system.
The Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002, was established to improve on the security of vessels, ports, and oil/gas platforms. These measures included assessments of critical ports across the United States to evaluate the security concerns of the port. New “Security plans are required on over 10,000 vessels and 5,000 facilities in the new regulations.” (Bush, 2002). The act also included audit teams for foreign ports, new security measures for workers within the ports and on U.S. vessels. This includes identification card credentials for employees. With this identification process a national database was created to verify mariners across the globe. The SAFE Port Act followed with the mandatory scanning of all cargo entering the United States.
Austin
References
Bush, G. W. (December, 2002). Statement on signing the maritime transportation security act of 2002. Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, 38, 2095-2096. Retrieved from https://search-proquest-com.ezproxy1.apus.edu/docv…
International Maritime Organization (n.d.) A concept of a Sustainable Maritime Transportation System. World Maritime Day. Retrieved from: http://www.imo.org/en/About/Events/WorldMaritimeDa…
