Security Committee

ASA Names Committee Leaders

The American Salvage Association (ASA) has named the following as leaders of its Standing Committees for 2009-2010:   Jack Ringelberg, JMS Naval Architects and Salvage Engineers, Chairman, ASA Associate Membership Committee   Paul Smith, The Glosten Associates, Vice Chairman, ASA Associate Membership Committee   Matt Miller, The Glosten Associates, Chairman, ASA Membership Committee   Devon Grennan, Global Diving & Salvage, Inc., Chairman, ASA Safety Committee   Tim Williamson, Donjon-SMIT, Chairman, ASA Security Committee Chairman              Todd Schauer, Resolve Marine Group, Chairman, ASA Training Committee Chairman

USCG to Examine LNG Route

The U.S. Coast Guard Sector Corpus Christi will assess safety and security issues associated with liquefied natural gas tankers traveling in the Matagorda Ship Channel in order to make a recommendation to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding Calhoun LNG, L.P.'s proposal to build a liquefied natural gas terminal in Calhoun County. The Coast Guard received official notification of Calhoun LNG, L.P.'s plans on March 14, 2005.

The Coast Guard Announces Deployment of Homeport

The Coast Guard officially announced its initial deployment of Homeport, an internet portal. Homeport (version 1.0) is the official Coast Guard information technology system for maritime security created to provide information and services to the maritime community and the public over the Internet. Coast Guard Federal Maritime Security Coordinators will use Homeport as a primary means for the day-to-day management and communication of port security matters with Area Maritime Security

U.K. First to Provide VTS Supervisor Training

On October 18, the Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) accredited south Tyneside College (STC) for the training of Vessel Traffic Services (VTS) Operators. The college achieved a world’s first less than two years previous to this, by receiving accreditation for the provision of basic training for VTS Operators. The Supervisors’ course, V-103/2, is based on the model course recommended by IALA. It provides the necessary development and assessment of knowledge and competence required to

Goben Named First PVA Safety Award Recipient

Captain Richard Goben, Hornblower Events & Cruises, San Diego, CA has been awarded the Passenger Vessel Association and the Passenger Vessel Foundation’s first recipient of the Roger Murphy National Marine Safety Award. He was nominated by his employer, California-based Hornblower Events & Cruises. Goben was chosen over several other, well-qualified candidates by PVA's Safety & Security Committee. Ray Lyman, Chairman of the Safety Committee

MV Artic Sea, August 18 Update

The Maritime Security Committee, with the assistance of the Maltese liaison team stationed in Helsinki since early August, have continued to closely monitor developments of the incident involving the MV Arctic Sea. The Committee would like to clarify that the movements of the MV Arctic Sea were always known for several days, notwithstanding reports that the ship had “disappeared.” There was consensus amongst the investigating authorities of Finland

Port of NY/NJ to Get More Funding

Annual funding to protect the perimeters of New York's and New Jersey's ports will be boosted nearly fourfold, the Department of Homeland Security was to announce Monday. The increase, from $6.6 million to $25.7 million, follows a public outcry sparked in June, when the agency decided to slash New York City's share of terror grants for cities by 40 percent, or $83 million. The new money is meant to help ports guard against attacks by land or sea but is not designed to pay for cargo

Port Security Legislation Reinforces Security

Like so many areas of our economy since the terrorist attacks of September 11, the port and maritime areas of the United States are being scrutinized for vulnerability to terrorism. Catastrophic scenarios are all too easy to imagine, and the threats can come from so many directions. To illustrate the complexity of the maritime law enforcement challenge, the Coast Guard Commandant, Admiral James M. Loy, posed the following hypothetical in an October 31 speech to the Propeller Club of the

Deadline for new port security measures approaching

By Jonathan K. Waldron During a visit to Charleston, S.C. last month, President Bush touted his proposed 13 percent budget increase for homeland security with U.S. ports being a primary priority. The visit came just six months before these facilities must implement several domestic and international requirements intended to add additional layers of defense and protection from potential terrorist acts. These provisions are contained in the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA)

Port Terminals Risk Millions with Lame Grant Strategies

Forget 2012; work on the funds already awarded. Port terminals risk losing their one last shot at millions in FEMA/DHS Port Security Grant Funds if they don’t act decisively before Sept. 2012.   As of Jan. 31, 2012 FEMA reports that the most at-risk port communities in America have banked $303,980,061 of the $1,369,263, 074 awarded to ports, terminals and security agencies from FY 2007 through 2010, “leaving a balance of $1,065,283,014.”