FEMA awards Maryland Port Administration $1.6M grant for security efforts

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The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recently awarded the Maryland Department of Transportation Maryland Port Administration (MDOT MPA) a $1.6 million grant through the most recent round of the Port Security Grant Program.

Funding will be used for cybersecurity and access control policies and initiatives at the Helen Delich Bentley Port of Baltimore’s state-owned, public marine terminals.

“We thank FEMA for this grant and for helping make the Port of Baltimore a stronger and more secure seaport,” William P. Doyle, MDOT MPA executive director, said. “We will continue to aggressively go after federal port security grants that will protect the thousands of men and women who work at the Port of Baltimore and protect the tens of millions of tons of cargo that we handle annually.”

The port’s public terminals have received more than $20 million through the program since 2005. The port has used the funding to significantly enhance its security program. It has strengthened closed-circuit television, installed lighting and fencing, and upgraded access control procedures.

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued the port’s public marine terminals a top rating on annual security assessments for 12 consecutive years.

The port generates approximately 15,330 direct jobs and supports more than 139,180 positions.