Security And Risk News

China condemned the United States on Wednesday as the region's greatest security "risk creator" after a U.S. warship again sailed through the sensitive waterway that separates Taiwan from China.The U.S. Navy's 7th Fleet said the Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer USS Curtis Wilbur conducted a "routine Taiwan Strait transit" on Tuesday in accordance with international law."The ship's transit through the Taiwan Strait demonstrates the U.S. commitment to a free and open…

Maritime cybersecurity is more important than ever, as made clear during an international webinar chaired Wednesday by the United States, the Netherlands and Denmark.The webinar was a continuation of the maritime cybersecurity event in the margins of the One Conference in The Hague in October 2019.Andreas Nordseth, Director General of the Danish Maritime Authority, said, “The technological developments hold great potential for improving the maritime sector even more, and ensuring the necessary digital and green transformation.”However…

Two decades into the 21st century, we’re seeing a growing and pernicious threat to global information security: ransomware. Even non-technical folk have loosely heard of it, but the broader implications haven’t yet penetrated the public consciousness. In different industries, that general lack of awareness could be a big problem—and the maritime sector is a good example.Ransomware hits at the confluence of two critical trends in modern technology: the ever-increasing integration of IT systems into daily life, and the interconnectedness of those IT systems.

Risk Intelligence provides security data, information, analysis and assessment to enable safe navigation in areas of risk in an increasingly uncertain world.Since its founding in 2001, Denmark-headquartered security information specialist Risk Intelligence has developed a fully integrated risk assessment and planning tool that provides valid, actionable intelligence to any fleet, on land, in port or at sea, 24/7/365. The company has three information and intelligence products that together assess security risks at sea…

Classification Society ClassNK certified the Cyber Security Management System (CSMS) of NYK Group subsidiary NYK LNG Shipmanagement Ltd. and its managed LNG carrier “PACIFIC MIMOSA”. This is the first CSMS certified by the Society.ClassNK released its “Cyber Security Management System for Ships” in March 2019 which provides guidance on ensuring, implementing, maintaining, and continuously improving the cyber security management system of companies and ships with the goal of safe navigation.

Ship owners and managers can now view what security threats a country poses to shipping lines with the click of a button thanks to a new live interactive map. The security and risk mapping system RiskMap provides a new and unique way of viewing and categorising up-to-the-minute security threats from around the world. RiskMap automatically analyses thousands of news articles every day, by assessing the threat posed, classifying the risk and identifying the location. It automatically summarises articles of interest by selecting the most important information that is relevant to the event. It can also understand large amounts of data quickly and efficiently.

Australian government plans to spend 50 billion Australian dollars (US$39.39 billion) on powerful new submarines, has become a political football at home, reports Reuters. The opposition said it wanted to invite Sweden to join Germany, France and Japan in submitting tenders for submarine fleet, as part of a proposal to end political gridlock on the project. The Government has rejected a Labor proposal to further open up the submarine tender process as "complete fantasy" and a "mirage". Prime Minister Tony Abbott has dismissed the Labor plan warning the nation could be left without any operational vessels. He also reminded Labor it had six years in government from late 2007 to make a decision about replacing the Collins class fleet.

To meet the rapidly growing demand for a wide variety of LNG related services, DNV GL has established a group of LNG experts in North America. In addition to deep LNG expertise, the Houston-based “LNG Solutions Group - Americas” is also experienced in all business, risk and regulatory matters specific to the North American market. With the increasingly strict regulation of sulphur emissions in force next year and the already tightened Emission Control Area regulation for the U.S., ship owners are likely to feel more pain by the rising fuel prices.

“In the last five years, pirates have killed at least 411 fishermen and wounded at least 1,000 more, suggested Mujibur Rahman, Chairman of Cox’s Bazar District Fishing Trawler Owners Association (DFTOA). According to the DFTOA, pirates attacked more than 1,000 fishing boats, abducting more than 3,000 fishermen, killed over 45 and collected more than $1.28 million in ransoms from fishery owners of two coastal towns – Chakaria and Maheshkhali, alone from late 2011 to late 2012,” reported a Bangladeshi paper in April 2013.

EBDG’s LNG bunkering barge design receives ABS approvals as the maritime industry increasingly looks to LNG as a fuel of the future. In early June, Federal Maritime Commissioner William P. Doyle told listeners at an LNG Bunkering conference in Vancouver, Canada that “Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) bunkering in North America is moving forward … There is an abundant supply of natural gas in North America. Utilizing natural gas as a marine fuel would help ship owners and operators comply with the MARPOL Annex VI requirements to reduce air pollution from ocean going vessels.” That much is true. It’s also true that there is any number of ways for vessel operators to get to the Promised Land. Nevertheless, LNG – as a fuel – has certainly stepped out into the lead on that mission.

In his speech at the LNG Export & Export & Infrastructure Conference Federal Maritime Commissioner Doyle gives insights on the consequences of the adoption of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as a marine fuel in the United States. I am a Commissioner with the U.S. Federal Maritime Commission. The Federal Maritime Commission is an independent regulatory agency responsible for regulating the nation’s international ocean transportation for the benefit of exporters, importers, and the American consumer. I should emphasize that my thoughts and comments here are mine and mine alone – they do not reflect the position of the Commission, and they should not be construed to represent the positions of any of my fellow Commissioners.

Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) hosted U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) Tuesday for a tour of the company's Newport News Shipbuilding division. The visit provided the senators an opportunity to meet shipbuilders and see construction progress being made on all programs across the shipyard. Huntington Ingalls Industries President and CEO Mike Petters and Newport News Shipbuilding President Matt Mulherin were joined by Adm. M.E. Ferguson, vice chief of naval operations, the Hon. Sean J. Stackley, assistant secretary of the Navy, and Rear Adm.

Tom Ridge, President and CEO of Ridge Global, an international provider of security and risk management services, today announced that Thomas Betro, former Director of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), and VP at NTT DATA, has joined as an advisor. Betro will work closely with Ridge Global’s Flag Bridge strategic maritime team to help guide the expansion of a global maritime criminal investigation service. “We are fortunate to have a seasoned maritime law enforcement professional like Tom Betro on our team,” said Gov. Ridge.

Global business risk consultancy Drum Cussac Ltd. delivered an antipiracy training program for the Malagasy Navy at the Naval Base in Diego Suarez, Madagascar. It is the first time that a private company has been permitted to partner with the Malagasy Navy. A team of Drum Cussac’s skilled and experienced risk management consultants worked closely with thirty Malagasy Naval personnel to enhance the Navy’s anti-piracy capability when operating in an offshore environment. Although reported cases of offshore security incidents in East Africa have fallen recently, the rapid development of Madagascar’s offshore oil and gas industry has led to a growing need for more robust security in the region.

Marine terminal operator DP World engaged CHQ Security Services to act as security and risk assessment consultants for the operation of the UK's major deep-sea container port – London Gateway. CHQ Security Services are acting as security and risk assessment consultants to the project in order to assist DP World in meeting and exceeding the requirements of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code (ISPS), the maritime sector’s response to 9/11. The consultancy’s remit…

Security Dynamics LLC, a global security and risk management advisory firm, added three new Senior Advisors to its team of Subject Matter Experts. The news was announced by Kim E. Petersen, the firm’s Chairman and President. The new Senior Advisors will compliment Security Dynamics’ current team of experts bringing with them decades of career experience in intelligence, homeland security, infrastructure protection, intermodal transportation security and law enforcement training.

In response to dangerous and escalating terrorist threats directed at both the private and public sectors, Security Dynamics LLC – a counterterrorism and risk management consultancy – is expanding in size and scope, according to Chairman and President Kim E. Petersen. The Florida-based firm's enhanced focus will include intermodal transportation, energy and petrochemical facilities, hotels and the hospitality industry, and schools and universities. Security Dynamics LLC, a strategic security and risk management advisory firm renowned for its team of counterterrorism and risk management experts, is increasing its global scope of operations in response to rapidly evolving terrorist and criminal threats, it was announced today by Kim E. Petersen, the firm’s Chairman and President.

Ridge Global, an international provider of security and risk management services, and iJET University, a provider of risk management training curricula and solutions, announced that the two companies will collaborate to offer instructor-led training for executives and decision makers with security responsibility. Specifically, iJET University will offer Ridge Global’s flagship corporate security and resiliency training courses to its broad base of international clients and members.

Washington State Ferries (WSF) is exploring an option to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a source of fuel for the Issaquah Class ferries. LNG is used worldwide and provides an opportunity to reduce fuel costs, and better the environment by decreasing emissions. Fuel is WSF's fastest growing operating expense; it burns more than 17 million gallons each year. Its fuel budget is over 30 percent of the FY11-13 operating budget, compared to 12 percent in FY00-01. The fuel cost savings moving from diesel to LNG is approximately 40-50 percent at today’s pricing.

Ridge Global, an international provider of security and risk management services, has named Vice Admiral Brian Peterman (United States Coast Guard, Retired) and Matt Branigan as the newest members of Flag Bridge, a recently launched service focused on maritime risk and sovereignty management. "Strategic maritime challenges are increasing at an alarming rate," said Tom Ridge, Ridge Global President and CEO and former secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. In addition to Peterman and Branigan, Flag Bridge members include: Admiral Tom Collins, 22nd Commandant of the USCG; Vice Admiral Jim Hull; former USCG Area Commander; Rear Admiral Norm Saunders, former USCG District Commander; and Dan Sheehan, former USCG Chief Information Officer.

Somali pirates hijacked 10 ships in March, the most since December, 2010, and may attack larger merchant vessels this month, AKE Intelligence said, Bloomberg reported. Four of the seized craft were used to make more attacks, rather than being held for ransom, said Rory Lamrock, a piracy analyst at the Hereford, England-based security and risk-assessment company. “Pirate syndicates will be emboldened by the latest hijackings, spurring them on to conduct more attacks over the coming weeks,” Lamrock said. Somali pirate attacks rose to a record 237 in 2011 with ransoms worth $160 million paid to release 31 hijacked vessels, a One Earth Future Foundation report showed. Pirates based in Somalia cost governments and the shipping industry as much as $6.9 billion last year, One Earth estimates.

The company offers a range of offshore security, transit security and risk management services. The company has its own floating logistical base in the Gulf, as well as villas where the men have downtime, and even, on one site, they give voluntary service at a local orphanage. Its agents are recruited from the Royal Marines and Special Boat Service, and they are given training in human rights, as well as corporate-social responsibility and general maritime training. “We’re bringing on new integrated services over the next year, and we’re enhancing our presence in the Gulf. With the right licensing we can embark and disembark men and weapons more efficiently than our competitors,” said Mark Pearce, marketing director.

Maersk Line wins 'Shipping Line of the Year' title at Supply Chain Asia (SCA) Logistics Awards 2012 in Singapore. The company was judged best in class among operators in the region – beating other finalists that included APL, Cosco, Hanjin, and Yang Ming. John Corris, Head of Regional Key Client Management, accepted the trophy from SCA on behalf of Maersk Line Asia Pacific Chief Executive Thomas Knudsen. “It is an honour for Maersk Line to win such an award. It validates our commitment to our clients to be a trusted and responsible partner now and always,” Corris said.