Title:
Port Security Risk
Assessment Tool (PSRAT)
Author: Tony Regalbuto
Chief, Office of International
& Domestic Port Security
Assessments
United States Coast Guard
Economy: USA
31st APEC Transportation Working Group Meeting
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The U.S. Coast Guard created the Port
Security Risk Assessment Tool
(PSRAT), a risk assessment tool to enable
Captains of the Port (COTP) to assess
terrorism risk facing targets within their
area of responsibility.
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Overview
What is PSRAT?
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The Port Security Risk Assessment Tool
(PSRAT), is a relative risk ranking tool that
enables users to assess infrastructure
geographically.
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The tool is a Microsoft
Access 2000 based
application.
Input screens are used to
capture data needed
for analysis.
All data is stored in the
Access database.
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Using The Tool
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How does PSRAT work?
 PSRAT converts subjective evaluations
into quantitative risk values
 Uses the equation:
Risk = Threat x Consequence x Vulnerability
 Consequences, Threats, and Vulnerabilities
are assessed for specific attack scenarios.
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Target Hardness
Organic Security
X
Accessibility
Target
Availability
Redundancy
+
Recoverability
Impact
Symbolic Effect
X
National defense
Threat
Environment
Impact
National Economic
Impact
Death Injury
Likelihood
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Scenario
Consequence
Vulnerability =
Risk
Mitigation
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Using PSRAT
for Risk Management
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PSRAT helps decision makers identify
relative risk within their port.
 PSRAT has helped Coast Guard COTPs
communicate port security priorities to
stakeholders and partners by:
(1) identifying the key drivers of risk; and
(2) evaluating risk-reduction measures.
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PSRAT as a risk management tool can
help:
 Identify critical infrastructure
 Estimate the effectiveness of
countermeasures
 Define risk management strategies
 Allocate resources
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Users can look back at the individual risk
scores and evaluate what actions would
reduce a particular score.
For example, the risk associated from the
possible ramming of a cruise ship by a deep
draft vessel could be mitigated by relocating
the cruise ship to a less accessible berth.
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In summary, PSRAT
 Allows your chief port security officer (or other
user) to identify critical infrastructure and key
resources within an area of responsibility
 Determine the risk of specific attack scenarios
against a list of discrete targets
 Provide a report of prioritized security risks within
an area of responsibility
 Estimate the effectiveness of countermeasures
 Assist in evaluating where resources could be
most effective in safeguarding against the risks
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https://homeport.uscg.mil
Click on the IPS
Program link
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For further technical assistance in
developing PSRAT please contact:
Mr. Matt Mowrer
ABS Consulting
mmowrer@absconsulting.com
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