OTTAWA, Ontario, 4 Nov. 2007.OSI Geospatial Inc.'s U.S. Systems Operations has signed a $1.2 million contract to provide an integrated vulnerability assessment for the Sabine Neches port area in Texas. This area encompasses approximately 4 refineries, 37 chemical facilities, 4 storage facilities, assorted quarries, fueling stations, docks, and piers, as well as the Ports of Port Arthur, Port of Beaumont, and the Port of Orange.
Under the terms of the contract, the company will complete a risk assessment for the port system and identify actions to effectively mitigate threats to the region's maritime critical infrastructure. The work is estimated to be completed over a six-month period.
The Sabine Neches area project is being funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Port Security Grant Program (PSGP). The funds provided by the PSGP are primarily intended to support the work of increasing port-wide risk management, enhanced domain awareness capabilities through the development and implementation of port-wide risk management/mitigation and Business Continuity/Resumption of trade plans to prevent, detect, respond to and recover from attacks involving improvised explosive devices (IED) and other non-conventional weapons, as well as training and other exercises. The DHS grant program provided for funding of US$110 Million in fiscal year 2007 which included US$66 Million to be allocated to the eight U.S. port areas that have been determined to be high risk areas. The Sabine Neches area is one of these areas and it will receive funding of approximately US$6 Million.
"This is our first port security win and I am pleased to be involved in this very important project," says Ken Kirkpatrick president and CEO of OSI Geospatial. "The development of the U.S. port security market is a high priority for OSI and we are well positioned to leverage our advanced naval situational awareness technology to provide solutions that will enhance port security operations."
