KYG Updates Blog

Security and Safety

Walla Walla County

By Bethany W.

WHEREAS, The port city of Seattle traffics from hundreds to thousands of ships and containers every day. Seventy percent or so of the Port’s containerized cargo originates in or is destined for regions of the country outside the Pacific Northwest, making Seattle a trade gateway of regional, national and international significance. Two major U.S. railroads are within two miles of container terminals, and two major interstate highways are within minutes of all terminals; some of these including destinations to Chicago, New York, and Boston. The Port handled 9.9 million metric tons of imports and 9.93 million metric tons of exports in the year 2005 and 2.08 million containers crossed the Port’s docks last year. Seattle is the closest port to Asia than anywhere else in the United States, making it a premier gateway for products moving to and from North America.
WHEREAS, The city has program called Operation Safe Commerce, which is a $58 million program initiated by the U.S. Government, to provide security for Seattle’s ports, it is not efficient enough for the city. KIRO Team 7 Investigators went undercover to expose the huge gaps in security of the Port of Seattle. Investigative Reporter Chris Halsne spent several months punching holes in security up and down the coast. Although they could not share all of the flaws in the system, they were able to get in within a matter of seconds. One of the major flaws stated in the article was that various guards show up later but don't enhance security as much as they should and routinely wave truckers on without any inspection of ID. When asked about this behavior of the security, a veteran trucker replied, “‘No. That's standard procedure. There's nobody ever comes out and questions what you're doing.’”
NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RESOLVED, The state of Washington will create a state security agency whose purpose is to protect the port of Seattle as well as other minor ports to a lesser extent. This will be done by upgrading technology of scanning and checking what is in the cargo coming into the port; increasing the training and efficiency of security guards and possibly increasing the number of guards as well; and upgrading and improving some of the programs already intact.