US Maritime System after the 9/11 Attack
Customer service is a management strategy that aims to meet the needs and exceed customer expectations. The concept of this management strategy is based on an organizations goal to effectively and efficiently meet customer satisfaction. The definition and scope of customer service include concepts from marketing, service, quality and logistics (, 1991). Customer service is a representation of an organization’s logistic system output and indicates how well the logistic system functions in making time and place utility that focuses on external customers. Customer service is defined, from a logistic perspective, as performance expectations and as “a process for providing significant value-added benefits to the supply chain in a cost effective way” (., 1988). “The marketing concept holds that the key to achieving organizational goals consists in determining the needs and wants of target markets and delivering the desired satisfactions more effectively and efficiently than competitors” (, 1988, ).
The lasting economic effect of the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001 will be of different nature. The United States committed large amount of resources to national security. Resources that could have been used by the government to enhance the country’s productive capacity will be used for security. Since it takes more capital in producing large unchanged amount of goods and services, this action will result in slow growth rate in national productivity.
As an immediate action, following the terrorist attack of September 11, 2001, the United States temporarily shut down its air traffic system for several days. Also, in a well-less-known move, the government temporarily halted the maritime transportation system, preventing ships destined for U.S shores to reach their destinations. The 9/11 attack on U.S spurred the maritime industry to reassess the vulnerabilities of maritime security against potential terrorist attacks and sabotage. After the 9/11 attack, U.S government officials and the public attention remain focused more intensely on increasingly security and safety of air travel than the sea transportation system. However, the vulnerabilities of U.S sea transportation system did not go unnoticed. By late 2002, the U.S Congress had passed legislation for government agencies to implement security programs and directives in securing the nation’s seaport. The effect of the 9/11 attack suddenly redefined the term “security” into a new and more complex dimension. Even though, the nature of the attack used air transport, concerns about possible replication of such attack spread to other transport system. If commercial airlines could be hijacked and used to terrorized, terrorist could and would eventually attempt to use other method of transportation such as road, rail, or sea in terrorist attack.
The maritime industry plays a crucial role in facilitating international commerce; destructive attacks on such industry would greatly cause massive losses and disruption to economic trade. Which is why sea transportation system requires extensive security measures; ports and the supply chain that feed goods into ports should be secured due to two concerns. First, transporting something from one place to another – an activity that ports generally facilitates – is an important activity for terrorist; ports could become a conduit for terrorist to build their arsenal just within the nation’s borders. Second, ports are significant potential pint for economic activity. The 361 U.S. seaports greatly contribute to U.S. trade and the U.S. economy. The number of cargos is also a reason why the maritime industry is vulnerable to terrorism. Maritime trade focuses on speed and efficiency and the international nature of the maritime industry are amongst the factors that makes maritime trade vulnerable to terrorist acts. US ports move about 80 percent of all U.S. international trade by weight, and about 95 percent of all U.S. overseas trade, excluding trade with Mexico and Canada. By value, 7 billion worth of goods flowed through the seaports in 2003, about 41 percent of all U.S. international goods trade (, 2006). Ports are tempting targets for terrorist, as a point of entry and exit, sea fare is one component that affects travel and transmitting of goods that can be used for terrorism. America’s vulnerability to sea strikes is difficult to estimate, due to wide and numerous sea ports, but the stakes are high. A significant breakdown in the US maritime transport system would send shockwaves throughout the world economy. In fact, in a worst-case scenario, a large attack could cause the entire global trading system to halt as governments scramble to recover. Drastic and inefficient solutions could also be put in place, such as the complete closure of some ports and duplicative and lengthy cargo checks in both originating and receiving ports
In the wake of 9/11 attack, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) introduced in 2002 a new comprehensive set of regulations that outlines security measures and standards for ships and port facilities in maritime trade. This guideline is known as the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) aims to strengthen maritime security to prevent and suppress terrorism acts against shipping. The implementation of such code is a crucial development for maritime security. The philosophy of ISPS code views the security of ships and port facilities as a risk management activity; wherein risk assessment is made in case-to-case basic in order to determine the appropriate security measures. ISPS provides a standard, consistent framework for evaluating security risk.
In response to terrorist attacks, President George W. Bush established a new Department of Homeland Security; which aims to protect America’s seaports, nuclear plants, energy pipelines, and other infrastructures. Homeland security developed a comprehensive port security strategy in 2002. Homeland Security developed and implemented a regulation which the U.S Cost Guard, Transportation Security Administration, And U.S Bureau of Customs and Border Protection works together in implementing maritime security.
The aftermath left by the 9/11 attack prompted the U.S Customs to implement Container Security Initiative (CSI) in 2002, which aims to protect cargo shipped in containers from threats of terrorism. During his June 12th speech, – Homeland Security Secretary; CSI is “designed to strengthen port protections through increased international cooperation, new technology and the necessary funding needed to meet these new security enhancements, at strategic ports located around the world”. The philosophy of CSI is to expand the US zone of security outward to make American borders the last line of defense instead of the first. CSI aims to detect illicit cargo t pass through ports.
Customs-Trade Partnership Against Terrorism (C-PAT) is a collaborative initiative for port security improvement by the US Customs in league with carriers, brokers, and warehouse operators. C-PAT contain guidelines in enhancing maritime supply chain and improving maritime performance while mitigating the risk of loss, damage, theft, and determining potential elements of risk into the supply chain. Every partner of C-PAT plays a vital role in the campaign against terrorism by participating in global supply chain security initiative; that is every company will provide their employees, suppliers, and customers with a more secure supply chain.
Ports are just part in the maritime transportation chain, which provides a culminating point in cargo movements. The maritime transport industry involves many components and various activities dependent and reliant on one another’s efficiency. Therefore, port security should not be limited within its boundaries and requires a multidimensional security approach. Beyond port boundaries, other components of the maritime industry (transports and logistics) must ensure that their roles in security deployment are efficient and reliable. In order to improve port security, all the components of the maritime transportation chain must also be secured.
Al Qaeda; the terrorist group who proclaimed responsible behind the 9/11 attack, demonstrated their capacity to use ships as weapons. Using commercial airlines are not just the capacity of Al Qaeda in terrorizing. An earlier incident that happened October 2000, Al Qaeda used a small bout that contains explosives and rammed the bout to the USS Cole stationed in Aden, Yemen resulting in the casualty of 15 Americans. Al Qaeda used a similar attack to a French oil tanker in October 2002. A House subcommittee hearing in March 26, 2003, revealed the possibility that Al Qaeda may own at least 15 cargo ships, and Osama bin Laden – leader of the Al Qaeda group; has been reported to have link to network of cargo freighters that could be used by Al Qaeda in their operation or group logistics. Attacks against maritime target is one of the rarest form of terrorist attacks; except for the hijacking of Achille Lauro in 1985 – an Italian cruise ship hijacked by Palestinian rebels; the bombing of USS Cole in 2000 killing 15 Americans; and MT Limburg in 2001 are notable exception. Only two percent of terrorist attacks since 1969 have taken place at sea. Terrorist groups preferred to attack on land due to the reason that land are fixed, easier to penetrate and more immediately accessible to media. Terrorist aims to that their work will make people panic. Another reason why terrorist groups preferred land is because sea operation requires specialist skills and resources and because they are familiar with such methods that are tested and relatively has high success rate.
Although despite such empirical record of maritime attacks, there has been a noticeable rise in threat of maritime terrorism due to the general and apparent vulnerability of maritime security. Terrorist groups are showing tactical sophistication – as evidenced by the 9/11 attack, Bali bombing in October 2002, and Madrid rail attack in March 2003 – showing that terrorist groups are experimenting with new operational methods.
Inadequate maritime security may be caused by inadequate security funding. Insufficiency in security funding means that only few cargo containers are inspected. “Experts agree, increasing inspection from the current 4-6 percent to 10 percent would be a quantum leap in protection and would be relatively inexpensive, costing a few hundred million dollars, ( , 2004)” But the Bush administration’s 2005 budget proposed no federal funding increases for the screening of containers. Inspectors working on ports are not adequately trained and receive no formal training needed for overseas posting. International maritime security codes are not enforced because the coast guard does not have enough personnel that will verify that maritime security is properly implemented and followed.
The early impact of 9/11 attack is on American Tourism. Flights going and coming from the U.S are cancelled. People are afraid to travel by any means. But the tourism industry has fully recovered from the 9/11 attack. “We have seen full recovery in spending by visitors to the United States since September 11, surpassing the record mark set the previous year,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Services . This is due to the vigilant approach of the government to condemn terrorist attacks; establishing committees and guidelines that will improve security, especially in the maritime industry that deems to be vulnerable to terror attacks.
The 9/11 attack has affect the world in many ways. The attacks cause casualties and material lost on far greater scale in recent history. Transportation are disrupted, not just the airline industry but as well as the maritime industry, and other transportation industry in the US. Travel has always been an essential conduit for international trade, which greatly dropped since September 11. Business trips are frequently replaced by telecommunication. Companies restricted their number of business trips. Terrorism can massively disrupt world trade.
The impact of the 9/11 attack has been great, affecting not just the U.S but the World as a whole. It changed the way the government implement national security to their borders. The United States together with other countries must join hand-in-hand in the war on terror. Working together as one, with one goal and objective, that is to live a peaceful life free of war and terrors, is our greatest weapon to eliminate numerous threats that threatens our harmonious existence. We must remain aware and vigilant. Aware of our surroundings and our environment, and vigilant in fighting any acts of terrorism. Security should start at ourselves; we should follow security guidelines and ensure that we are aware that nobody threatens such guidelines. The one who really suffer from terrorism are the people in countries who most urgently needed direct investment, links to transportation, It is this inhabitants of third world countries that terrorist attacks, intentionally or unintentionally hurts the most.
The travel industry are the first to quickly registered the impact of 9/11 attacks. Flights from any point were cancelled, greatly affecting business. Clearing passenger backlogs and rescheduling flights back could take weeks, which can cause great financial loss. Since the 9/11 attack, security for the maritime transportation has become a major component of the security measures developed by the United States to avoid terrorist attacks. These guidelines involve by both public authorities and private companies throughout the production, storage and maritime transportation chains. Facilities, plants, ports and conveyance are all objects of security measures implemented sequentially to guarantee the integrity of the supply chains. This multilayered system is designed and aims to protect products exported to the USA and avoid a terrorist attack by cargo arriving at US borders. The effect of the 9/11 attack is quick and great for the transportation industry as well as the maritime industry, but the maritime industry quickly developed due to new and improved security deployed by the government and the quick implementation of the maritime industry to react and avoid terrorist attacks using maritime transportation. Due to the quick response and the deployment of security against terrorism, maritime travel quickly recovered from loss due to the attack.
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