Pascagoula, Miss., Port Gets Money to Stiffen Security

The Pascagoula Port has received $716,000 in federal security grants since 2003 and is putting the money into fencing, lighting and other security amenities.

The work will be complete next month.

"The United States wants to make sure its ports are safe on a national level," said Port Director Mark McAndrews. "Most of these are federally driven requirements."

Randy Joplin, harbor master and security officer, said, "Ports have been identified as a high-risk area for a possible terrorist attack.

"They are a potential target because 95 percent of the nation's commerce goes through ports or has activities near ports, like railroads."

Pascagoula's port needed some tightening, he said. "We had a lot of open areas along perimeters especially on the west bank, where we share a common property line with Northrop Grumman."

To go along with the federally funded hardware, the port now also spends roughly $200,000 a year for contract security to enhance safety.

The county port acquired the $716,000 in two of the four rounds of federal funding for this type of homeland security. Joplin said this money is going to pay for fencing, security lights, video cameras and a new guard shack and gate that will replace two gates.

The port has applied every round for money for security patrol boats, but Joplin said that is considered more of a specialty item.

"They've given us money for the essentials so far, to get us off the ground," he said. "Then maybe we'll get some of the other things."

McAndrews said, "With the enhancements we've made, we've made Pascagoula a more secure port to do business with."