Houthis Vow to Step Up Ship Attacks in the Red Sea
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis claimed responsibility for an attack on a UK-owned cargo ship and a drone assault on an American destroyer on Thursday, and they targeted Israel's port and resort city of Eilat with ballistic missiles and drones.The statement by a Houthi representative on social media site X came shortly after the group's leader said it was ramping up attacks on ships in the Red Sea and other waters - including with new "submarine weapons" -to mirror Israel's military operations in the Gaza Strip.Houthi militants have launched repeated drone and missile strikes in the Red Sea…
Svitzer Nets 10-Year Deal for Towing Services at Offshore LNG Terminal in the Philippines
Maersk's Svitzer, a maritime towage provider, has recently signed a 10-year deal with FGEN LNG, a First Gen subsidiary, for towage and other vessel support services required by FGEN LNG’s Offshore LNG Terminal in the Philippines.The LNG Terminal project will feature a leased Floating Storage and Regasification Unit (FSRU) that will be located at the First Gen Clean Energy Complex in Batangas City in the Philippines.BW Group in April secured a 5-year contract with FGEN LNG for the charter of BW Paris…
OpEd: STCW Requirements Should Support Maritime Decarbonization
The modern merchant mariner is required to be competent in a number of skills and knowledge areas, such as firefighting, CPR, vessel security and even how to work as a team. Absent from this list is the mariner’s role in fighting climate change. Maybe it’s time for that to change.The Standards of Training Certification and Watchkeeping (STCW) is an internationally recognized set of rules that set minimum standards and competencies for mariners to perform their jobs effectively and safely. Before STCW was formed in 1978 it was left to individual governments to set mariner training standards.
Demystifying Cyber Security
Recent cyber attacks to the US Government, the IMO, Maersk, amongst others has caused the world to pay attention to criminal cyber activities by foreign states, terrorists, and criminals. The cyber attack against CMA CGM shut down services for close on two weeks. Two days later, on October 30th the IMO was held hostage by a cyber attack. These attacks follow attacks earlier this year against MSC and COSCO.As of January 1, 2021 all vessels that have a safety management system must address cyber security in order to maintain ISM certification.
Maritime Resilience and the Human Element at MRS2020
Has the age of maritime discovery and exploration actually ended? Perhaps not exactly. As the history of maritime resilience and the human element shows, as far back as the 1500s and earlier, from using new navigational aids and improved ship designs, to coastal and inland route sailing, to navigating on open seas with uncertain charts, wayward icebergs, dense fog and luckily at times, clear starry nights, mariners have faced human element and maritime resiliency challenges. "Short of food and water…
Ransomware: The IT Danger on the Horizon
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.
Cyber Hack: Fortifying Maritime, Port Security
The United States Coast Guard Marine Safety Alert 06-19 (USCG MSA 06-19) outlines a February 2019 incident aboard a deep draft commercial vessel that called on the Port of New York / New Jersey after experiencing a significant cyber incident that impacted their shipboard network. The Safety Alert stated in part:“An interagency team of cyber experts, led by the Coast Guard, responded and conducted an analysis of the vessel’s network and essential control systems. The team concluded that although the malware significantly degraded the functionality of the onboard computer system…
MSCI Advisory: Regional Conflict and Piracy
2019-007-Red Sea, Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, and Indian Ocean-Violence Due to Regional Conflict and PiracyDescription:This revised advisory cancels U.S. Maritime Advisory 2018-0151. References: (a) U.S. Maritime Alerts 2018-001A, 2018-002A, 2018-002B, 2018-005A, and 2018-007A2. Issues: Regional conflict and piracy threats continue to pose potential risks to commercial vessels operating in the above listed geographic areas.3. Conflict in Yemen continues to pose potential risk to U.S.
FuelTrax 'Vision' for SPO
Swire has installed FuelTrax Vision, a new onboard surveillance system.Swire Pacific Offshore, a marine services conglomerate and a leading service provider to the offshore oil and gas industry currently operates six vessels with FuelTrax on board, two of which have been installed with the latest FuelTrax Vision technology. The two FuelTrax Vision systems have been preforming without disruption since December 2018.FuelTrax is designed to be a smart, self-contained, marine fuel management solution, which protects assets and ensures security of fuel, compliance and optimized vessel performance.With the launch of its FuelTrax Vision system…
U.S. Government Shutdown: Assessing the Impact on Maritime
On December 22, 2018, a continuing resolution passed by Congress to fund a portion of the U.S. Government into the 2019 fiscal year expired and was not renewed resulting in a partial federal government shutdown. Among the affected Executive Departments are the Department of Homeland Security (which includes the Coast Guard and Customs and Border Protection), the Department of Transportation (which includes the Maritime Administration), the Department of Interior (which includes the Bureau of Environment and Enforcement (BSEE) and the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM))…
Partners Address Guyana's Maritime Opportunities and Challenges
The National Maritime Law Enforcement Academy (NMLEA), and its subsidiary International Maritime Law Enforcement Academy (IMLEA), announced a teaming agreement with AMES Maritime Security (AMES) of Kingston, Georgetown (Guyana) to provide international level maritime safety and security services. The cadre of professionals from within both organizations are recognized for their military, maritime, and security skills and competence, and their ability to provide training, exercise, education, assessment, consultation, and other services.
Nexans’ New Cable-Layer under Construction
Nexans said construction has started on its new cable-laying vessel for submarine HV cable systems installation. The vessel is being built by Croatia-based shipyard ULJANIK Group and is expected to be delivered and start operations by Q3 2020. The high capacity vessel is designed for worldwide installation of large volumes of HVDC and HVAC cable systems, covering the complete Nexans submarine product range, and has a 10 000-ton capacity turntable. Designed by consulting agency Skipsteknisk AS…
Cyber Vigilance at Sea: The New Norm
The risk of cyber attacks on vessels at sea continues to be significant, and it’s not going away any time soon. Each year, it seems, there are more and more reports of hacks that have resulted in loss of critical data, financial loss or problems with IT systems or shipborne systems functionality. Shipowners have been reluctant to share information on actual or attempted breaches for fear of being identified. However, there’s no shortage of examples of cyber attacks on vessels.
USCG-approved Courses at Maritime Technology and Training Center
A variety of U.S. Coast Guard-approved maritime training courses are being offered this spring at the San Jacinto College Maritime Technology and Training Center on the Maritime Campus in La Porte, Texas. These courses are open for companies looking to update their crews’ training and licensing and for individual mariners. The Center offers a comprehensive professional mariner program and an associate degree in maritime transportation. It is located at 3700 Old Highway 146 in La Porte, Texas. Feb. Feb. Feb. Basic Fire Fighting (BST Pt. Feb. Feb. Feb. First Aid and CPR (BST Pt. Feb. Feb. Feb.
MN100: Compliance Maritime
Compliance Maritime was founded by Captain Katharine Sweeney in 2010 and has since provided over 400 International Safety Management (ISM) audits and more than 300 vessel security audits. Compliance Maritime is a certified Woman Owned Small Business (WOSB). Clients consist of several key players in the industry, however each and every audit is confidential, and treated as such. Compliance Maritime auditors are certified, insured and current USCG licensed Master Mariners with 150 years of combined experience on a large variety of vessel types.
TSA Boosts Maritime Security in a Big Way
Though most visible to the general public for its work at America’s airports, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) also helps to secure the country’s transportation network in a number of other ways, including assisting the U.S. Coast Guard in securing the nation’s critical maritime facilities, structures, systems, assets and services. America’s vast marine transportation system encompasses some 25,000 miles of navigable waterways, the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway…
Tracking Global Piracy Trends
Piracy has existed since the conception of shipping, and pirate attacks on vessels continue to disrupt trade, raising vessel security concerns and impacting the operation and insurance costs for ships, says Clarkson Research Services. The drivers behind piracy are wide but primarily economic and clearly, geography is also key. This month, we take a closer look at recent shifts in the regional distribution of piracy ‘hot spots’. Piracy remains a prevalent concern within the shipping industry, raising issues around vessel security, disrupting trade routes and increasing ship operation costs. In the year to date, 85 piracy attacks have been reported globally compared to 142 in the same period of 2015.
Combatting Maritime Cyber Security Threats
The U.S. Executive Branch has declared that the cyber threat is one of the most serious economic and national security challenges we face as a nation, and that America’s economic prosperity in the 21st century will depend on effective cyber security. Before the maritime industry sounds the danger signal, it needs to monitor other industries and branches of the government and take proactive preventative measures. There is no better place to prepare future and current mariners for these challenges than in maritime simulators.
New Launches, Demonstrations Set for Seawork
Europe’s commercial marine and workboat exhibition held in a working port, Seawork International, has released its plans for demonstrations, launches and conferences. Organizers say Voith will announce a new marine propulsion system that produces more thrust, reduces noise and vibration, while cutting operating costs. The Smart Surfaces’ Duplex fouling from Tudor Streamline Surfaces will debut at Seawork, which is expected to attract considerable interest from commercial boat operators having been initially developed by the U.S.
IMCA Publishes Security, Emergency Guidance
The threat to maritime security from piracy, terrorism, criminal acts, and hostage and kidnapping threats continues to pose challenges to ships’ owners, masters and crew members, and has resulted in the International Marine Contractors Association (IMCA) (Booth S16 at OTC) publishing ‘Security Measures and Emergency Response Guidance’ (IMCA SEL 037, IMCA M 226). “Safety is of paramount importance, and our document aims to provide guidance to masters, company and ship security officers and other crew members and staff…
Maritime Training Academy Announces Diploma in Maritime Security
The Maritime Training Academy announced the launch of its new diploma in maritime security today. The Surrey, UK-based distance learning center said the diploma in maritime security will commence April 1st, 2015 and will consist of 11 modules including ISPS code, Passenger Vessel Security, Superyacht and Private Yacht Security. It will cover preventative measures and security procedures as well as event responses. All students are required to successfully complete and pass the module assignments. Diploma students are also required to sit a final examination in either April or October 2016. There is also the opportunity to attend two tutorial seminars, one mid-way through the course and one immediately before the examination.
MARAD Certifying Cruise Security, Safety Training
The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) informs it has begun certifying cruise vessel security and safety training program providers. As part of the voluntary certification, MARAD will review training plans and supporting information for consistency with training standards established under the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act (CVSSA) of 2010, which imposes new security and safety standards on cruise ships. MARAD will issue certifications effective for five years to successful training provider applicants, and will list certified training organizations on its website.
Proposed Rulemaking on Cruise Ship Terminal Security
The Federal Register Wednesday published the U.S. Coast Guard’s notice of proposed rulemaking amending its regulations on cruise ship terminal security. This proposed rule would standardize screening activities for all persons, baggage and personal effects at cruise ship terminals while also allowing an appropriate degree of flexibility that accommodates and is consistent with different terminal sizes and operations. This flexible standardization ensures a consistent layer of security at terminals throughout the United States.