AROUND THE PORT
PORTSIDE NOTES
A YEAR OF TRANSITION AS COVID-19 CAUSES CHANGES TO PORT EXERCISES AND BUSINESS PLANS, CONTAINERIZED CARGO TRAFFIC RALLIES IN LATE 2020 AND A LIVING LAB TAKES SHAPE By Tom Peters
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought
about many changes in the way people and organizations operate. The Halifax Port Authority (HPA), for example, will hold its annual security training session online for the first time. The annual security session, mandated by Transport Canada as per its marine security regulations, is an exercise that gives the Port and all other government regulated facilities in the harbour an opportunity to test and revamp emergency protocols and procedures. “We as a port have to do this every year and we invite all the other players in the Port to take part,” says Port security officer Aaron Dickson, HPA’s manager of port security and emergency preparedness. Last year’s session drew 75 participants, 10
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Port of Halifax
including 17 marine facilities, agencies from the three levels of government, police agencies, Canada Border Services Agency, and the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. Organizers determine the exercise’s program with input from the various participants. Dickson explains the security scenario could deal with piracy, a hijacking, a terrorist attack, or even an environmental issue. Consultants help develop the exercise program. HPA has two operations centres. There is the Primary Control Centre which handles day-to-day operations and the Emergency Coordination Centre. “That room is full of monitors, computers, maps, charts, and is the nerve centre to help facilitate an emergency and that is where the Port
team would go [in the event of a security issue],” Dickson says. He adds that HPA has an Incident Command System (ICS), a formal program to specifically manage emergencies. The federal government has established three marine security levels (MARSEC). One is normal, two is when there is a heightened alert from the federal government, and three is when something serious happens or there is knowledge that something is imminent. The Port hasn’t had a serious security event in decades. However, in 2014 the security team was mobilized when there was a potential for a serious environmental issue with a shipping container containing uranium hexachloride, a radioactive and highly corrosive material.
