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DHS Introduces Maritime Infrastructure Recovery Plan

The Department of Homeland Security announced today the release of the Maritime Infrastructure Recovery Plan, one of eight plans supporting the National Strategy for Maritime Security. Key elements of the plan include guidelines for coordinated, national-level efforts to restore the flow of cargo and passenger vessels in response to a major disruption to the maritime transportation system. The plan also describes an exercise program that would be conducted periodically to assess the plan's effectiveness and the maritime community's ability to plan for, respond to, and recover from a national transportation security incident or incident of national significance. Originally completed in late 2005, the Maritime Infrastructure Recovery Plan's public release was delayed to allow additional review in light of the national response to Hurricane Katrina.

The Maritime Infrastructure Recovery Plan would be implemented by the Secretary of Homeland Security in the event of a significant national transportation security incident. Such an incident is defined as having a "high impact requiring an extensive and well-coordinated response by federal, state, local, tribal, and nongovernmental authorities to save lives, minimize damage, and provide the basis for long-term community and economic recovery."

The plan focuses on all forms of cargo, including those that are likely to hold perishable items in immediate need of unloading, or items that are key components in the production of consumer goods. As part of an integrated effort to protect the economy from the effects of a maritime transportation security incident, the Maritime Infrastructure Recovery Plan was developed in close coordination with the Maritime Transportation Systems Security Recommendations and the Commerce Security Plan. All three plans incorporated insights from the maritime industry and state, local, tribal, and territorial stakeholders.

As with other plans created under the National Strategy for Maritime Security, collaboration is critical. Key stakeholders who would be called on to work together include the maritime industry; state and local governments; existing bodies, such as Area Maritime Security Committees and the National Maritime Security Advisory Committee; and government agencies that have jurisdiction over areas that may be affected during an incident.

The Maritime Infrastructure Recovery Plan and other plans under the National Strategy for Maritime Security may be found on the Department of Homeland Security website. Feedback on this plan, as well as the Commerce Security and Transportation Systems Security plans may be submitted through the website or by emailing maritimesecurity@dhs.gov.

Source: Homeland Security

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