In the wake of the recent Ebola outbreak, President Barack Obama
has met regularly with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) leadership and has held direct discussions with
state and local officials concerning the administration's
domestic preparedness response. CDC has activated its Emergency
Operations Center (EOC) to help coordinate technical assistance and
control activities. While much of the focus of the Ebola response
has been on the need for screening of international airline
passengers (with five major international airports in the United
States implementing enhanced screening), attention has recently
turned to U.S. seaports receiving international shipments from West
African countries.
Scrutiny of the maritime industry by the United States government,
heightened after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, now extends to Ebola
preparedness. As federal, state and local governments develop
measures to prevent this deadly disease from reaching our shores,
it is important for shippers, port authorities and others involved
in sea trade to prepare for closer oversight by Congress and
various regulatory agencies. Compliance with security protocols,
meeting regulatory thresholds and preparing for changing
circumstances will remain essential as the nation responds to this
crisis.
Focus on U.S. Seaports
Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), a member of the Senate
Majority Leadership, has written to the CDC Director: "I ask
that CDC work with the Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in major
U.S. ports of entry to increase the monitoring and identification
of people arriving . . . by cargo ship." Senator Schumer
has called on CDC and CBP to conduct intense health screening for
personnel working on cargo ships at ports of entry –
particularly focusing on Liberian vessels since that country has
the second largest cargo ship fleet in the world, with 3,500
Liberian-flagged ships. The Senator has also suggested that
personnel on cargo ships from West African countries be screened
with use of a health declaration form.
The Obama administration has announced that the U.S. Coast Guard
will contact ships that have recently been to Ebola-affected
countries to ask whether passengers have symptoms of the virus
before they are allowed into port, and will screen passengers for
symptoms of Ebola aboard cargo ships coming from the affected
countries. The Coast Guard has stated that the policy applies to
vessels that visited affected countries within their last five
ports of call. The Coast Guard issued a bulletin to the
maritime community in Long Island Sound on October 6 describing new
protocols due to Ebola. While the Coast Guard has not stated
whether its other sectors around the country will take similar
action, it seems reasonable to anticipate a nationwide approach to
seaport screening in the near future.
Congressional Action Appears Likely
When Congress returns to Washington for a "lame duck"
session following the November 4 elections, we expect a variety of
emergency measures in response to the Ebola outbreak to be
considered. This may include additional funding for responses on
the ground in West Africa, with $1 billion in appropriations
requested by the Obama administration; additional resources for
screening passengers at airports and seaports; and recommendations
for participation by industry in response activities. We expect
that port safety will be an important part of these
discussions.
