Biden Administration Announces Actions to Help Strengthen Cybersecurity at U.S. Ports
Last week the Biden Administration announced an Executive Order which will allow the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard to have more authority in increasing cybersecurity at U.S. ports.
This Administration will invest $20 billion throughout the next five years in port infrastructure, according to Maritime-Executive. The Executive Order also addresses mandatory reporting of cyber incidents or active cyber threats – which includes threats to vessels, harbors, ports, or waterfront facilities.
Additionally, the U.S. Coast Guard will have authorization to control the movement of vessels that present a known or suspected cyber threat to U.S. maritime infrastructure. The USCG will also be able to inspect those vessels and facilities that pose a threat to U.S. cybersecurity – according to a White House press release.
Port of Savannah Planning to Reduce ‘Free Time’ Window – Starting July 1st
The Port of Savannah plans to reduce the ‘free time’ window for accepting export containers, starting July 1st. Outgoing containers will now only be permitted to arrive at the port seven days before a vessel’s scheduled departure, which will be down from their current nine days.
Regarding this change, “we are looking to align our export free time with our import free time,” Georgia Ports Authority spokesperson Tom Boyd told the JOC.
March 1st was the original date this reduced ‘free time’ window was set to go into effect, but exporters asked the Georgia Ports Authority for additional time, which the port agreed to. The port says they are working with those customers that are impacted by this upcoming change.