Port Of Hueneme Hosts Homeland Security Drill
Port of Hueneme, California (PRWEB) November 29, 2013 -- The Port of Hueneme participated yesterday in the first security drill since the rollout of the Port’s new Maritime Advanced Systems and Technology Lab (MAST) program hosted an Offshore Platform Security Threat Awareness and Response Program exercise (OPSTAR) conducted by the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Asymmetric Warfare and the U.S. Coast Guard.
The half day OPSTAR exercise called for a simulated attack and occupation of an Off Shore Oil Platform within the Santa Barbara Channel and included a no-notice level III activation of the Santa Barbara County Office of Emergency Management as a ‘stress test’ of its infrastructure and technology capacity. The exercise was designed to test regional security and communications protocols and the ability to thwart terrorist attacks on local assets and interests. The exercise took place in Ventura County utilizing security assets at the Port of Hueneme.
The research and experimental use of sophisticated radar, video, satellite and telecommunications technologies assisted in the multijurisdictional planning and coordinated communications efforts of the various participating agencies as well as provided maritime domain awareness supporting tactical events taking place on the Offshore Platform, from various points of view including the deployment of maritime special operations forces.
The exercise was deemed a success with the Coast Guard’s LA/LB sector Captain of the Port Captain Jim Jenkins saying, ”This exercise provided a great opportunity for the Coast Guard to work with our security partners at the Port of Hueneme. Our Maritime Safety and Security Teams exercised their capabilities in the scenario while acquiring control of an Offshore Oil Platform, accessing it from the air and the sea. The Center for Asymmetric Warfare brought an impressive array of technology to support the security and command and control teams during the event.”
Port of Hueneme CEO and Executive Director Kristin Decas said, “We are excited to host exercises such as OPSTAR 2013, they advance our newly developed MAST program by fostering ideas, innovation and leading edge technologies for the advancement of ports and the maritime environment.”
The Port of Hueneme is one of the most productive and efficient commercial trade gateways for niche cargo on the West Coast. The Port is governed by 5 locally elected Port Commissioners. The Port moves $7 billion in goods each year and consistently ranks among the top ten U.S. ports for automobiles and fresh produce. Port operations support the community by bringing $1 billion in economic activity and creating 9,448 trade-related jobs. Trade through the Port of Hueneme generates more than $63 million in annual state and local taxes which funds vital community services.
We Make Cargo Move
Will Berg, Port of Hueneme, http://www.portofhueneme.org, +1 (805) 377-1500 Ext: 2234, [email protected]
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