Coast Guard officer rebuts report faulting LNG security

[unhappycamper]

Tugboats and a Coast Guard boat tended an LNG tanker in Everett in 2006. A Guard officer called the safety plan "very robust."


Coast Guard officer rebuts report faulting LNG security
By John C. Drake
Globe Staff / January 11, 2008

The Coast Guard captain in charge of the Port of Boston said yesterday that federal authorities are well equipped to provide security when liquefied natural gas is delivered in the region and to respond in case of a terrorist attack.

The local office's assurances were made a day after the US Government Accountability Office questioned the Coast Guard's readiness to protect some ports nationwide.

"Here in the Port of Boston, we have safe and secure transits," said Coast Guard Captain Gail Kulisch. "We can do that because we have a very robust safety and security plan with many partners contributing to that for each and every transit."

According to the GAO report, portions of which were released to the public Wednesday, the US Coast Guard does not have the staff or resources to meet its own standards for securing petroleum shipments into the nation's ports. With shipments of LNG and other hazardous materials expected to increase to meet growing demand, the conclusion has added significance. The portion of the report released publicly does not specify which Coast Guard bases are considered lacking in resources.

Kulisch said the Coast Guard provided security for 22 billion gallons of petroleum passing through the port of Boston in 2007, including highly hazardous LNG making its way to Everett. Kulisch said every LNG shipment into Boston has a Coast Guard escort.


Rest of article at: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/01/11/coast_guard_officer_rebuts_report_faulting_lng_security/