RIDGE PLEASED WITH SECURITY PROGRESS AT PORTS.

Byline: James Nash Staff Writer

LONG BEACH - U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge said Monday that local and federal officials are well on their way to meeting a July 1 deadline to enhance security at seaports, including the busy port complexes at Long Beach and San Pedro.

Ridge said federal officials have taken a variety of measures - including electronic monitoring of ``high risk'' ships and X-raying of suspicious cargo - to protect the 361 U.S. seaports from terrorism.

The sprawling port complexes at Long Beach and San Pedro are the nation's busiest container ports, with about $1 billion in cargo moving through the ports daily.

Although the ports have not been the target of credible terrorist threats, officials stress that they are key points along the nation's defense perimeter.

Speaking at the Port of Long Beach, Ridge said the U.S. and other governments have upgraded security measures at ports worldwide, recognizing that threats migrate just as easily as commerce.

``In the past we have been forced to rely on a patchwork of security standards around the world,'' Ridge said. ``Of course, these security standards are just one tool in a worldwide layer of defense.''

Among other measures, port officials now require a manifest of all cargo at least 24 hours before it's loaded on a cargo ship.

Homeland Security agents use computers to identify potentially high-risk ships and monitor them on their seaward journeys, boarding them if necessary, Ridge said. The ships' cargo also receives special scrutiny as it is unloaded, with X-ray machines that detect any dangerous cargo, Ridge said.

``There's not a single point of failure in this entire system,'' he said.

But some officials remain concerned that seaports remain the soft underbelly of the nation's defenses against terrorism.

Increasing security at the 361 deep-water ports is expected to cost as much as $10 billion, and customs officials have time to inspect only about 2 percent of packages that arrive at ports.

Los Angeles City Councilwoman Janice Hahn, who represents the Port of Los Angeles and surrounding areas in San Pedro, said there are still vulnerabilities at the Los Angeles and Long Beach ports. She said any suspicious cargo is taken by truck to an inspection facility in Carson, after passing through residential areas such as Wilmington.

``That is dangerous and irresponsible, especially for the people in Wilmington and the area,'' Hahn said. ``We need to build that kind of facility on the waterfront.''

Hahn said such a facility would cost about $30 million. While Ridge did not promise the money during his news conference or in a private meeting with officials beforehand, Hahn said the homeland security secretary appeared receptive to local officials' needs.

Ridge, in comments to reporters, said all levels of government and private companies need to play a part in enhancing maritime security.

``If you combine both the public- and private-sector money to work on our ports, you're going to see an improvement,'' Ridge said.

Los Angeles Fire Chief William Bamattre said his department is working closely with police, the Coast Guard and others to prevent terrorism and respond to any incidents that occur. Bamattre said the Fire Department and Coast Guard have coordinated their boat patrols and underwater dive teams at the port of Los Angeles.

James Nash, [phone]

james.nash(at)dailynews.com

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During a tour of the Port of Long Beach on Monday, Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge pushed for public and private support for beefing up port security.

Stephen Carr/Staff Photographer