Port T Security How engineering firms are helping to reduce the vulnerability By Jim Parsons 14 ENGINEERING INC. MAY / JUNE 2007 he engineering industry has an essential role in the national effort to secure a vital but vulnerable component of commerce—its vast network of ports—that many believe could be the target of a future terrorist attack. As part of the nationwide response to the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, an accelerated transformation of exposed U.S. ports has required engineering expertise for vulnerability assessments, implementation of new inspection and perimeter detection systems, infrastructure upgrades and modernizations, along with strategic facilities master planning.