The Transportation Security Administration has awarded $179 million in grants to upgrade security at seaports around the country, but port authorities say much more federal security aid is needed. The funds will go for constructing new control facilities, as well as purchasing communications and surveillance equipment and patrol boats. TSA says that its latest grants, announced Dec. 11, will go to 235 organizations, and fund 442 projects at 326 locations.

Some large port authorities or agencies won multiple grants: for example, the City of Los Angeles Harbor Dept. was awarded four grants, totaling $9.4 million, for physical security improvements and surveillance equipment; the New York City Economic Development Agency was awarded three grants, totaling $4.1 million, for physical upgrades; and the Greater Baton Rouge Port Commission got eight grants, totaling more than $1.6 million, for "physical enhancements," communications, surveillance and a vessel.