Port Manatee tenants object to new security plan as too expensive

Port tenants object to new security plan as too expensive

PORT MANATEE -- A plan to put federally mandated security measures at Port Manatee into the hands of its own security personnel suffered a setback this week when port tenants condemned it as intrusive and expensive.

Now, as a Coast Guard deadline to implement a new security policy looms only two months off, port administrators and its security director may have to take a new approach to cut costs and integrate private security guards.

Proposed in September, the plan includes a new set of fees to pay for additional guard services, infrastructure and technology needed to monitor cargos handled by port tenants. Members of the Manatee County Port Authority tabled the fee schedule and the security plan Thursday to allow more time to query Coast Guard officials and consider cost saving measures.

Security has been a top concern at the port since Sept. 11, 2001. David St. Pierre, the port's security director, said port personnel are responsible for or participate in up to 80 percent of security operations on the port's 1,100-acre property. Some individual tenants, including stevedores and import-export companies, have their own security plans and hire security personnel in addition to what is provided by the port.

Security measures implemented in the past 14 years include the construction of a perimeter fence, establishing access control checkpoints at the port's entrances and the development of a security guard training program.

St. Pierre said Coast Guard officials recently recommended that the port do away with the individual plans its tenants use. A single plan, vetted by the Coast Guard, would govern all security operations. The goal, he said, is to bring all port tenants into compliance with current seaport security regulations.

Tenants don't necessarily disagree with the concept, just the additional costs they may incur. Chris Scheils, general manager of tenant logistics company Gearbulk, said the proposed fee schedule that goes with the port's security plan would add $2,400 in costs to a two-day stay for one of its vessels at Port Manatee.

"Our concern here is not the security measures," Scheils said during an authority meeting Thursday. "It's putting the costs on top of already high costs at the port."

Juan Martinez, a principal with Tampa-based private security firm Martinez & Co., attacked the plan from another angle. His company has provided security services at Port Manatee since 1986 and does work for port tenants, including aggregate and rock suppliers Martin Marietta and Vulcan. If the new security plan eliminates the need for his company's services at Port Manatee, the loss of chargeable hours will make it difficult for Martinez & Co. to service its other accounts, including some at Port Tampa.

Martinez proposed the plan be modified to allow port tenants that do have Coast Guard approved security plans to opt out of the port's security plan and new tariffs. In cases where tenants do not comply with Coast Guard standards, he said the port should impose its security plan and personnel.

Authority member Larry Bustle agreed with Martinez. He said he could not support the plan as drafted because it would grow a function of government.

"I'd rather pay for something that is job creation in the private sector rather than the government sector," he said.

Authority members and the port's executive director, Carlos Buqueras, agreed to bring the security measure back at an upcoming Manatee County Commission meeting. Coast Guard officials will be asked to attend that meeting to explain the service's position.

Matt M. Johnson, Herald business reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7027 or on Twitter@MattAtBradenton.

This story was originally published October 15, 2015 at 5:42 PM with the headline "Port Manatee tenants object to new security plan as too expensive ."