As boxes of bananas and new BMWs were shunted from massive cargo ships docked at the Port of Hueneme, Rep. Lois Capps got a preview Monday of security preparations at the most important hub of commerce in Ventura County.

"I'm impressed with this port," said Capps, D-Santa Barbara. "I'd say it's on par with any port in the nation."

Despite its relatively small size — about $6 billion in trade last year — the Port of Hueneme has maximized relationships with other local, state and federal agencies to tackle the challenge of protecting against security threats, Capps said.

She cited the Oxnard Harbor District's use of the Center for Asymmetric Warfare at neighboring Naval Base Ventura County. The district runs the Port of Hueneme.

"That's the kind of local and federal cooperation we'd like to encourage," Capps said. Then, noting the importance of agencies communicating with one another, she said, "That was driven home to all of us by 9/11."

David Banks, director of the Center for Asymmetric Warfare, said it is helping various agencies that would be involved in the event of a security breach, terrorist threat or some sort of natural disaster.

Over the past four years, the port has received about $900,000 in grants to enhance security.

The port is in the process of implementing a new worker identification system — part of the nationwide Transportation Worker Identification Credential Program begun in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks — as well as improving perimeter fencing and surveillance equipment.

Anthony J. Taormina, executive director of the Oxnard Harbor District, said there are also plans to install a gamma radiation detection system that would help screen incoming cargo.

On Wednesday, the port will hold its annual security drill, involving port police, U.S. Customs, the Coast Guard, the Navy and local police and fire officials.

The closest thing to a security threat at the port in recent years was a 2006 incident that temporarily shut the facility down after a longshoreman unloading bananas found graffiti inside a container ship that read: "Nitro + glycerin my gift for G.W. Bush and his Jewish gang." No explosives were found.