CBP and Georgia Ports Authority to share radio communications

Port of Savannah

U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Savannah, GA, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Jan. 30 with the Georgia Ports Authority (GPA) agreeing to share radio communications.

The agreement, said CBP, is part of a continued partnership between CBP and civilian law enforcement agencies that share radio communications to enhance security between the groups.  Through a DHS grant, said CBP, GPA bought a system that will allow both CBP and GPA to communicate directly through a radio frequency at GPA-regulated terminals.

GPA is the administrative agency of the U.S. state of Georgia that oversees the development, maintenance and operation of two deepwater seaports  --  the Port of Savannah and the Port of Brunswick  --  and two inland ports   --  Port Bainbridge and Port Columbus.

The system provides fully functioning dispatch capabilities for conventional radio systems and can control multiple, wireless radio systems, according to CBP. The integrated communications and information solution will serve as a central point for all radio communications, it said.

Shared radio communications is only one example of continued partnerships CBP has made with stakeholders at the Area Port of Savannah, said the agency. The partnership will allow both agencies to increase their ability to quickly respond to safety and security situations, it said.

 Lisa Beth Brown, CPB’s area port director for the Port of Savannah signed the MOU for CBP.  “Interoperable communication is imperative during joint operations or emerging situations,” she said in a Jan. 30 statement. “I’m pleased that we were able to find technology that will only improve our solid working relationship.”

“We are pleased to sign this memorandum of understanding with U.S. Customs and Border Protection today," said GPA Executive Director Curtis Foltz. "This agreement will allow the GPA and Customs to work in a more collaborative fashion to protect our waterfront.”