By Kerri Pepoy,Staff Writer

PARIS – A pending sale that would transfer shipping operations at six major American seaports to a United Arab Emirates-owned firm is “deeply troubling,” Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, said Wednesday.

“The single greatest threat to homeland security is port security,” Snowe said during a visit to the Western Maine University and Community College Center in Paris. “It is a dimension of risk we can ill afford right now.”

Snowe, who chairs the U.S. Coast Guard Subcommittee, also said she plans to discuss the pending sale with high-level Coast Guard officials and ask them how much, if any, involvement they have had with the deal’s approval.

“I want to ask if they approved it, and if so, why did they,” she said.

A 12-member government panel recently approved the sale of London-based Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Co. to Dubai Ports World, a company owned by the country of the United Arab Emirates.

The transaction would put Dubai Ports World in charge of major shipping operations in New York, New Jersey, Baltimore, New Orleans, Miami and Philadelphia.

Both Democrats and Republicans have said they’re concerned the deal could increase the possibility of a terrorist attack at a major port, noting that some of the Sept. 11 hijackers used the UAE as an operational and financial base.

President Bush and supporters of the deal contend that the UAE has been a close ally in the war on terror, and the deal was carefully negotiated and addresses security concerns.

Snowe said the UAE may be an ally, but she added that a government “does not always have control” over security threats. In addition, she said security personnel and resources are limited at America’s ports, noting that only about 5 percent of incoming container cargo is inspected.

“It’s an enormous challenge for the Coast Guard today to implement the port security plan,” she said. “The point is, you’re adding an element of risk.”

Snowe, who has been mentioned as a potential presidential or vice presidential candidate for the Republican Party in 2008, said she is focused on running for re-election this year as a Maine senator.

“I appreciate how people view me in that light,” she said. “I’m honored by it. But I’m concentrating my time and attention on running for re-election this year.”

Snowe visited the Western Maine University and Community College Center to take a tour and see recent renovations to the building. She helped obtain $400,000 in federal funds for construction, renovation and other costs for the building, which houses offices for the University of Maine, Central Maine Community College and the CareerCenter in South Paris.