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Port of San Diego Receives $2.5 Million Security Grant

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger recently announced the award of $40 million for security improvements at 11 California ports, including $2.5 million for the Port of San Diego.

The money comes from Proposition 1B, which was approved by voters in 2006 for the ports and mass transit security.

The money for the Port of San Diego is in addition to the federal Department of Homeland Security’s allocation of up to $2.9 million. This money is part of the $388.6 million in security grants that will be awarded to more than 100 ports and ferry operations across the country.

Money from both the state and federal grants will go toward several security projects, including improvements to the Port’s communications network, improved detection of improvised explosive devices and emergency response equipment.

“We are excited about this award as it will go a long way to satisfying many of our homeland security needs,” said John MacIntyre, the Port of San Diego Homeland Security Program Manager. “We are especially grateful to the Office of Homeland Security for allowing all the ports to be full partners in determining how this money was allocated and we look forward to this continued partnership."

Purchases of some equipment and work on the communications network could begin within the next four to six months. In the past six years, the Port of San Diego has received about $17 million that has been used to buy security cameras, improve lighting and other features at the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal, the National City Marine Terminal and the B Street Cruise Ship Terminal.

Later this year, the Port of San Diego is expected to begin a pilot program that will focus on detecting radiological and nuclear weapons on small commercial and recreational craft. This effort is part of a federal Department of Homeland Security pilot program that also is underway in Washington’s Puget Sound.