The U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded the Port of Long Beach a $2.6 million grant to help strengthen the shipping hub’s security infrastructure.
The port plans to use the funds to upgrade its cybersecurity and improve the detection capabilities of its drones. An additional $4.6 million will go toward six terminals within the Port of Long Beach, as well as the Long Beach Police Department’s Port Police Division and the Long Beach Fire Department.
Read More: Port of Long Beach Sees Highest Ever Cargo Volumes for Single Month
“These investments are vital in safeguarding our port’s operations and ensuring the secure movement of trade,” Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson said in an October 23 news release. “This grant underscores our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety and efficiency at one of the nation’s busiest seaports.”
According to cargo security company Overhaul, 45% of cargo thefts in the first half of 2024 were in California, the largest share of any state. Around 36% of those thefts took place inside within 200 miles of the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, an area Overhaul calls the “Southern California Red Zone.” That area saw as many cargo thefts in the first six months of the year as Texas, Tennessee, Illinois, Georgia and Arizona combined. In November of 2023, federal security officials also launched a campaign at the Port of Long Beach, urging public agencies to shore up their digital infrastructure in the face of potential cyber attacks.
