Security Officer

Cal Maritime Security Officer Refresher Course

The U.S. Coast Guard National Maritime Center, through Det Norske Veritas, has approved a Vessel Security Officer (VSO) Refresher Course developed by The California Maritime Academy, a part of The California State University. The course, offered through Cal Maritime’s Sponsored Projects and Extended Learning (SPEL) Department, provides a refresher curriculum for maritime security personnel and is designed to facilitate the transition to the USCG mandatory training for Vessel Security Officers.  Effective July 1, 2009 licensed mariners designated as Vessel or Ship Security officers will have to have either passed an approved Vessel Security Officer course, or taken an approved VSO Refresher course and either worked in the position of a VSO or have taken a VSO course. The Refresher course addresses all the latest requirements of the SAFE Port Act of 2006 and the TWIC program, as well as other recent developments and complies with the Guidelines for Maritime Security Training Course Provider (Federal Register February 8, 2005 - Volume 70, Number 25) and the following standards: •    Regulations 13.1 (Part A and B), and 13.2 (Part A and B) of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code •    IMO Model Course 3.19 Ship Security Officer (2003 edition) •    Model Course MTSA 08-01R Refresher Course for Vessel Security Officer (2008 edition)

Videotel Launches Training Course

Maritime training provider Videotel Marine International has launched Shipboard Security, a distance learning course produced in association with The West of England Ship Owners Insurance Services. Shipboard Security is specially designed for training Ship Security Officers in accordance with the new SOLAS Chapter XI-2 "International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code". "Under the ISPS code every vessel over 500 gt and trading internationally is

EC Adopts Proposal to Implement IMO Agreement on Security

On May 2, the European Commission adopted a Communication on enhancing maritime transport security and made a proposal for a Regulation on enhancing ship and port facility security The Commission's proposal for a Regulation is based on the agreement, reached in the IMO in December 2002, to amend the SOLAS Convention on the Safety of Lives at Sea and the adoption of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code.

U.S. Submits to IMO re Maritime Security

The U.S. Coast Guard has submitted, on behalf of the United States Government, recommended measures that it believes should be undertaken internationally to improve maritime security for the purpose of preventing and suppressing acts of terrorism against shipping. The recommended measures include advancing the date by which automatic identification systems must be installed on ships from July 1, 2008 to July 1, 2004; requiring the preparation of ship, offshore facility

MMA and MPS to Offer Inernational Security Education

Maine Maritime Academy (MMA) and Maritime Protective Services (MPS) have recently established a collaborative working relationship to offer maritime security education courses for company security officers, ship security officers, and facility security professionals. The announcement was made earlier today in conjunction with the opening of the U.S. Maritime Security Expo at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. As exhibitors at the Expo, MMA and

DNV Certifies Seagull's Security Course Package

Det Norske Veritas (DNV) has certified the Seagull Security Training package according to the DNV SeaSkill Standard for certification of learning programs, which confirms that the course package is covering the requirements in the ISPS Security Code (Part B, reg. 13.1 & 13.2), and the drafted competence requirements from the IMO model course outlines given in STC 34/14 (Annex 7 & 8). The courses have been developed in close cooperation with renowned

MOL Observes Manifest Rule

MOL reported that nearly 100 percent of its customers shipping cargo onboard U.S. bound vessels are in full compliance with U.S. Customs’ new Advance Manifest Rule. The rule requires detailed manifest information to be filed with U.S. Customs at least 24 hours before goods are loaded on vessels bound for the U.S. “MOL is 100 percent committed to complying with all of U.S. Custom’s security requirements, while maintaining the “just-in-time delivery” speed crucial to the stability of our

P&O Enforces New Security Measures

P&O will deploy sniffer dogs at the start of its cruises to deter drug use, Seven.com.au reported. In a new security measure, sniffer dogs will search passengers embarking on cruises aboard the Pacific Sun and Pacific Star ships, and any passengers found to be carrying drugs will be refused entry and referred to police. Since September 2002, P&O had implemented a number of improvements to security, including the appointment of seagoing security officers and increasing security at embarkation

Liberia Approves Seagull Security Training Package

Maritime Training specialist, Seagull, has secured Liberia’s approval for its unique Security training package.   Liberian approval comes little more than a month after Seagull announced that it had been awarded Norwegian Maritime Authority (NMA) approval for the new security training package, which is to be made available in October. Seagull has sent application for approval to a number of other flag states.  

MARAD Steps Up

The U.S. Maritime Administration & Maritime Security Initiatives The paradigm for global transportation security underwent a dramatic shift in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist attacks. In the years that followed, industry and government worked together to add layers of security to mitigate risk while maintaining the flow of commerce. The Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Maritime Administration (MARAD) has since developed security initiatives which ensure safety