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The Port of Baltimore
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May/June 2014
the help of the greater Port community when it comes
to ensuring Port security and vessel safety.
“The Coast Guard works very hard to keep us
educated and assist us in complying with the law,”
said David Espie, MPA Director of Security.
A DAY FOR REACHING OUT
A Port-Wide Industry Day, undertaken by Coast
Guard Sector Baltimore in conjunction with the Federal
Agency Trade Fair, is held annually as a major outreach
initiative. The daylong program offers presentations
by top officials as well as face-to-face discussions
on topics of interest to the Port community. Breakout
sessions tackle issues ranging from vessel security to
terminal-side safety requirements.
This year’s event, held in late April at the Cruise
Maryland Terminal, drew well over 100 participants.
“It is really good to get an idea of what is going on
around the harbor and develop a rapport with members
of the Coast Guard,” said Industry Day participant John
Shellenberger, a tugboat captain with McAllister Towing
of Baltimore.
With so many marine industry representatives in
one place, the Baltimore Port Alliance’s Federal Agency
Quality Work Group (FAQWQ) took the opportunity to
highlight several federal port partnerships. The MPA’s
Mary Jane Norris, who facilitates the FAQWG, said, “We
meet once a month and the agency representatives
share with the Port community any information that
might be pertinent. We basically go around the room
and share issues, events and updates.”
At the Industry Day event, FAQWG agencies set up
table displays and met with attendees. Representatives
from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
had handouts on the latest emissions regulations for
imported vehicles, while the USDA and its partners at
CBP shared the latest bulletins on invasive species.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) displayed
confiscated products that use protected animal parts.
Catherine Cockey, a wildlife inspector with the FWS,
noted the Port of Baltimore is one of only 18 ports in the
country designated as a regulated FWS port. “It is a busy
port and the officers are always on their toes,” she said.
Other regular participants in the annual gathering
include the U.S. Department of Transportation, Food
and Drug Administration, Immigration and Customs
Enforcement and the Consumer Safety Commission.
Together, the agencies show that the Port of
Baltimore has a secure safety net supporting it.
The Port-Wide Industry Day
program offers presentations by
top officials as well as face-to-face
discussions on topics of interest to
the Port community.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILL MCALLEN
