MTSA

Introduction The Maritime Transportation and Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) was passed by the Congress on November 14, 2002 to address the security of United States ports and watercourses. President George W. Bush signed the MTSA on November 25, 2002. The MTSA is essentially an implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS). The requirements of the law went fully into effect on July 1, 2004. The law mandates selected port facilities and vessels to conduct vulnerability evaluations so they could develop effective security patrols and install surveillance equipment. The MTSA is meant to develop a nationwide security program to identify and prevent threats to security.
Legislative Review In the 107th Congress the House of Representatives, Representative Don Young of Arkansas introduced several bills to address the security of the United States ports and watercourses. He introduced H.R. 1098 (Maritime Policy Improvement Act of 2001) on March 20, 2001. On the same day, he introduced H.R. 1099 (Coast Guard Personnel and Maritime Safety Act of 2001). These two bills were followed in July 2001 by H.R. 2481 (Omnibus Maritime Improvements Act of 2001). These bills were intended to address the security of the ports and watercourses of the United States. After the attacks of September 11, 2001 there were several additional bills introduced in the House of Representative. On October 3, 2001 Representative Corrine Brown introduced H.R. 3013 (Port and Maritime Security Act of 2001). This was followed in December for H.R. 3437 (Port and Maritime Security Act of 2001) by Representative E. Clay Shaw Jr on December 6, 2001 and H.R. 3507 (Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002) by Representative Don Young on December 18, 2001. On March 18, 2002, Representative Don Young introduced H.R. 3983 (Maritime Transportation Antiterrorism Act of 2002). While these bills were being introduced in the House of Representative, on