Customs and Border Protection should periodically assess the supply chain security risks from foreign ports that ship cargo to the U.S. and use the results to inform any future expansion of the Container Security Initiative and determine whether changes need to be made to existing CSI ports, GAO has said.
DHS components have developed models to assess the risks of foreign ports and cargo, but not all components have applied risk management principles to assess whether maritime security programs cover the riskiest ports, according to GAO-13-764.
It said the Coast Guard uses its risk model to inform operational decisions for its International Port Security program and annually updates its assessment, but by contrast, CBP has not regularly assessed ports for risks to cargo under the CSI program.
