Maritime Security Council News

Niels Aalund was elected President of the International Propeller Club at their 93rd International Convention and Conference. The prominent maritime industry stakeholder will serve a two-year term, commencing from October 17th. Aalund, a well-known maritime subject matter expert and executive, also serves as an Officer and as Senior Vice President of the West Gulf Maritime Association (WGMA). WGMA communicates and coordinates with various governmental entities throughout the West Gulf…

Niels Aalund was elected at the 93rd International Convention and Conference in New Orleans on October 17th.New Orleans, LA: Prominent maritime industry stakeholder Niels Aalund has been elected President of the International Propeller Club. Mr. Aalund will serve a two-year term, commencing from October 17th. Aalund, a well-known maritime subject matter expert and executive, currently serves as an Officer and as Senior Vice-President of the West Gulf Maritime Association (WGMA).

On September 24, 2016 the Houston International Seafarers Centers will host their Annual Maritime Gala . Niels Aalund, Senior Vice President, West Gulf Maritime Association, will be honored as the " Bronze Anchor Award” recipient. Niels Aalund, serves as an Officer and as Senior Vice-President, West Gulf Maritime Association, with primary responsibility for advocating on behalf of member companies (steamship agents, vessel owners, and industry stakeholders) with local, state and federal agencies. From organizations such as Washington, D.C, based, National Maritime Association, to the commercial sector, Aalund has provided leadership for a variety of maritime related positions. He has extensive strategic planning experience in both operations and commercial maritime activities.

William H. Watson has been appointed as Vice President of Meridian Global Consulting, LLC, a Mobile, Alabama-based scalable risk mitigation specialist consultancy. Company CEO Jonathan McConnell announced the appointment, stating that, “We are pleased that Will Watson has agreed to join the Meridian Global team. Prior to joining Meridian Global, Watson maintained his own consultancy, based in Washington, DC, and will continue to be based in the Nation’s Capital. MWatson’s experience includes serving as a flag State security officer for one of the world’s largest ship registries…

Maritime security and law enforcement experts are gathering in Boston this week to better understand maritime domain awareness and the challenges of port, waterway and coastal security, environmental protection, safety and law enforcement. One big lesson learned is that everything is just a little more challenging on the water. A number of law enforcement agencies from the New England area are attending and participating that have specific duties and functions associated with the maritime environment…

International shipping registries have continued to sharpen their aim taken at a longstanding maritime problem: What is the appropriate response to piracy? As attacks have shifted from Somalia to West Africa, the issue remains at top of mind. Armed guards have proven to be a successful deterrent against attacks. Ship finance and registry lawyer Brad Berman, a Partner at Holland & Knight (H&K), sums up a sea change in views over the past year in views about guns aboard ships, telling Maritime Reporter: “A few years ago most of the shipping industry was against having weapons aboard…

Maritime professional will lead the next generation of global security solutions. The AdvanFort Company today announced that maritime professional William Hughes (Will) Watson has joined the company as president. Will comes to AdvanFort from the Office of the Maritime Administrator of the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) where he has been Deputy Commissioner of Maritime Affairs and Special Agent since 2009. Additionally, Will served as delegate of the RMI to the United Nations…

The Maritime Security Council has accredited the on-demand trip threat reports. Piracy continues to be a major problem affecting large yachts and worldwide shipping concerns. Pirate attacks are spreading from the Gulf of Aden/Indian Ocean east to Asia and to the west coast of Africa. There have been reports of hijackings in South and Central America, Hispaniola, and the Caribbean as well. Shipping companies and large yacht owners are searching for solutions to help them better understand the location and type of threats they face along their routes. Secure Waters Security Group, Inc. now provides on-demand trip threat reports to help large yacht, cargo vessels, and shipping companies better understand the potential threats they may face worldwide.

William H. The goal of this year's Congress is to provide practitioners in the critical infrastructure security community with solutions, best practices and information so that they can resist, respond and reconstitute their operations in the face of future threats. The event features plenary as well as a number of breakout sessions in various tracks centered on disciplines such as cyber security, physical security, business resiliency and information sharing partnerships. Watson, who leads the Maritime ISAC and is the maritime representative to the National Council of ISACs, participated on a panel discussion focusing on the importance of geospatial assets to protecting the national infrastructure.

The Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and Government Information of the Senate Judiciary Committee conducted a hearing on February 26, 2002 concerning Securing our Ports Against Terrorism: Technology, Resources and Homeland Defense. Captain William Schubert, Maritime Administrator, testified about grants to be provided to critical national seaports to finance the cost of enhancing facility and operational security. Bonni Tischler, Assistant Commissioner, Customs Service, testified about the agency’s Container Security Initiative. RADM Kenneth Venuto, USCG, testified about Maritime Domain Awareness. Richard Steinke, representing the American Association of Port Authorities, discussed efforts by U.S. port authorities to improve security.

As many as 1 million U.S. seaport and ship workers must undergo background checks and obtain biometric identification cards as part of a federal program aimed at improving maritime security, according to Reuters. The credentials will supplement, rather than replace, the security cards and clearances workers already must have, sowing doubts about the program among shipping companies and port operators, industry officials said at the Maritime Security Council's annual conference in Fort Lauderdale this week. Enrollment in the U.S. Transportation Worker Identification Credential program, called TWIC, is scheduled to open next week at the Port of Wilmington in Delaware and expand to all U.S. seaports by August 2008.

Recognizing the expanded need for coordination and information sharing between the federal, state and local governments at our ports, Gov. Schwarzenegger signed an executive order creating the California Maritime Security Council (CMSC). "California's ports are vital not only to our own economy, but to the nation's economic health as well. Our state handles nearly half of all the port traffic in the United States and more than $4.5 billion in cargo moves through the Port of San Diego every year," said Gov. Schwarzenegger. Reports recently published by the Rand Corporation and the Public Policy Institute of California underscored the importance of California's ports and the devastating impact a catastrophic event would have on California's economy.

effective security programs. President, Environmental, Safety and Quality Assurance. company's Port Everglades, Fla., terminal. Security. Narcotic compliance with the U.S. Partnership Against Terrorism program (C-TPAT). said Nalen. Crowley a leader in the industry. Alford is a graduate of the U.S. U.S. to joining Crowley. Crowley's representative on the Maritime Security Council.