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Play It Safe
What’s Your Security Plan?
By Stephen R. Aborn
John T. Kozak
Contributed by IFMA
www.ifma.org
Just as the U.S. Marines are always looking
for “a few good men,” facilities managers
looking to staff security operations at
specialized facilities should consider adopting
a similar approach. At Distrigas of Massachusetts,
the oldest and busiest liquefied natural
gas (LNG) facility in the United States, that
qualification is essential.
Unlike other domestic LNG import facilities,
Distrigas is situated in a dense urban area
adjacent to the city of Boston, its active harbor
and seaport and Logan International Airport.
It supplies approximately 20 percent of New
England’s natural gas via pipelines and tanker
trucks from its two LNG storage tanks with a
combined capacity of 42 million gallons.
“In our operation, exemplary safety and security
processes are a primary focus and an ongoing
commitment,” explains Mark Skordinski, senior
manager for safety and security for Distrigas,
where he oversees a staff of in-house security
professionals and contract security officers from Garda (formerly
Vance). “We must coordinate our safety and security efforts
with local, state and federal authorities including the U.S.
Department of Transportation, the Department of Homeland
Security, the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Administration
and the U.S. Coast Guard, among others. We must also comply
with a host of regulations and standards as well.”
Since Sept. 11, security plans and systems have become increasingly
elaborate and detailed. “Before we were primarily
concerned with vandalism and petty trespass,” Skordinski recalls.
“Today, given the state of world affairs, our security officers
interact on a daily basis with state and local police, fire
and emergency personnel, FBI, Homeland Security as well as
the crews from LNG tankers, truckers who transport the gas
and contractors onsite for ongoing maintenance work. It is not
a coat and tie corporate security environment,” he notes.
A military model
When Garda Security Services first met with Distrigas to discuss
their security needs, they quickly realized their project-based
approach was the perfect model for meeting Distrigas’ unique
needs. The Distrigas security requirement was akin to the type
of security Garda provides at military installations. In staffing the
| pdca.org
Distrigas of Massachusetts, the oldest and busiest liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in the
United States, supplies 20 percent of New England’s natural gas from its two 42 million
gallon storage tanks shown here with the Boston skyline and harbor in the background.
facility, Garda selected officers with military backgrounds who
met stringent criteria—including appearance and demeanor,
ability to operate sophisticated electronic surveillance systems
and to undergo rigorous, ongoing training and testing. Additionally,
all security officers must pass a comprehensive background
check. Once assigned to the Distrigas terminal, they
receive extensive terrorism training by local police agencies
and Homeland Security, bomb detection training by the Massachusetts
State Police and in-depth training in LNG operations
and processes in order to support the staff of the facility.
The officers, clad in black “battle dress uniforms,” similar to
those worn by police SWAT teams, staff security posts throughout
the sprawling facility monitoring closed-circuit intelligent
video surveillance systems. They respond to alarms as well as
perform security checks and inspections of all people and vehicles
that enter the facility using under-vehicle monitoring systems
to check for improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
The officers are subject to random monthly drills—ranging from
suspicious mail deliveries to fake IEDs on the underside of tanker
trucks and ladders left against security fence perimeters.
“When government officials, regulators or important customers
visit, these officers are the face of Distrigas,” Skordinski