PORT CHIEF DEMANDS MORE HARBOR SECURITY.

Byline: Lisa Friedman Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON - Los Angeles, Long Beach and other U.S. seaports need more federal funding to provide adequate security against terrorism, the Port of Long Beach security director told Congress on Tuesday.

In a hearing before the House Transportation subcommittee on Coast Guard and maritime issues, William C. Ellis said seaports are suffering from an ``inequity between airport and seaport security.''

``When we see the billions of dollars that have been put into airport security ... and then we look at what has been focused on seaports in the United States, it gives us great concern,'' Ellis said.

Securing the nation's 361 seaports, which receive about 7,500 foreign ships each year, has been a top priority for lawmakers since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Last year, Congress passed the Maritime Transportation Anti-Terrorism Act that requires the U.S. Coast Guard to assess the vulnerabilities of ports and submit security plans.

On Tuesday, Ellis and other port officials said the $93 million the Transportation Security Administration doled out last year for security at ports isn't nearly enough.

When the TSA gave out port security grants last year, the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles were awarded $4.3 million and $1.5 million, respectively - a far cry from the $70 million directors at the time said they needed.

Airports, by contrast, have received more than $2.3 billion in security grants.

Lisa Friedman, [phone]

lisa.friedman(at)langnews.com