May 1, 2002

Port of Oakland Seaport Security
The Port's operations are subject to several regulatory and enforcement agencies including the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Customs, the Oakland Police Department and other Federal, State, and Local authorities. The current response to the heightened security level builds on this highly effective and fully functioning system of enforcement. The Port of Oakland is in full compliance, and will implement any additional instructions and/or directives from appropriate Federal, State or local agencies.

Effective May 1, 2002, the Coast Guard plans to enforce new guidelines on access to port terminals and identification of people coming onto terminals. The guidelines were adopted by the Coast Guard in January for all Pacific ports including Alaska and Hawaii.

The guidelines identify three security levels - Level I, where a terrorism threat is possible, but not likely; Level II, here terrorists are likely to be active within a specific area or against a type of terminal or vessel; and Level III, where the danger is imminent.

The ports are currently at security Level I.

At Level I, the access and identification portion of the guidelines call for all visitors to show a valid ID, such as a rivers license, passport, or labor organization ID card. Anybody without such ID will either be denied entry or escorted while they were at the terminal. All packages and vehicles are subject to inspection and 5 percent of them will be randomly inspected.

At Level II, all visitors shall be escorted, 10 percent of all vehicles and packages randomly inspected, and a gangway security watch posted for all vessels.

At Level III, additional security people will be brought in, access limited to one point, all non-essential work cancelled, all vehicles inspected, all ship stores screened for explosives, no barges or support boats allowed alongside a vessel without Coast Guard clearance, and all cargo operations stopped if any suspicious activity is noted.

The Coast Guard will begin enforcing other portions of the guidelines over the next couple of months.

Contact:
Ray Boyle
General Manager of Maritime Operations
(510) 627-1303
rboyle@portoakland.com

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