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Organization Of American States News

04 Mar 2019

Mexico Conducts Port Security Workshop

The second in a planned series of interactive workshops to prepare countries for a wide range of potential threats and security situations has been held, in Veracruz, Mexico (26-27 February).The interactive Port Facility Security/Port Security Officer Tabletop Exercise was run by International Maritime Organization (IMO) in collaboration with the Organization of American States Inter American Committee Against Terrorism (OAS-CICTE), following a successful pilot in Panama 2018.According to a press note from the UN body, participants in Mexico took part in a simulation exercise, designed to allow port facility security officers to develop their decision making skills in different situations…

17 Dec 2018

Simulation Exercises on Port Security in Panama

Simulation exercises are proving to be a valuable tool to assist countries and port authorities to prepare for a wide range of potential threats and security situations.According to a press release, an interactive port facility/port security officer workshop in Panama City, Panama (13-14 December) presented a series of possible scenarios which were deliberately varied, from the easiest problems to solve, to others that may require greater participation and analysis to reach a solution.Participants discussed needs, possibilities and opportunities to improve collaboration between them and other responsible actors for port and maritime security in Panama, both at the port level as well as at the national level.The outcome is improved capacity for better prevention and response.

13 Jul 2018

Port Security Training in Mexico

Being prepared in the event of a major maritime security incident is essential. To help address this issue, a maritime security training has taken place in Veracruz, Mexico (12-13 July). The International Maritime Organization (IMO) workshop aimed to promote a multi-agency approach to maritime security and law enforcement to improve cooperation among government departments. The event also highlighted the need for an integrated approach to the implementation of SOLAS Chapter XI-2, the ISPS Code and broader security measures. Participants explored a number of hypothetical scenarios related to maritime and port security. The workshop also reviewed existing procedures, particularly roles and responsibilities, with the aim of identifying gaps and opportunities for improvement.

07 Jun 2018

Uruguay Conducts Maritime Security Drills

Drills and exercises to test maritime security knowledge and update skills are under way during a national workshop in Montevideo, Uruguay (5 to 8 June). The National Workshop on International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS Code) Drills and Exercises has been designed to strengthen the technical capability of Designated Authority officials, port security officials and managers with respect to enhancing maritime security through the process of conducting drills and exercises in accordance with the ISPS Code and the relevant IMO guidance, by using the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Drills and Exercises Manual. The workshop was organized by International Maritime Organization (IMO) under the Global programme for the enhancement of maritime security…

19 Sep 2017

IMO for Spreading Cyber Security

Cyber security awareness on board ships plays an important role in ensuring the safety and security of shipping around the globe. International Maritime Organization (IMO) has issued Guidelines on maritime cyber risk management, in addition to a resolution on Maritime Cyber Risk Management in Safety Management Systems – adopted by the Organization's Maritime Safety Committee in June this year. To help spread knowledge and use of these high-level recommendations – IMO has taken part in the "Sub Regional Workshop on Critical Infrastructure Protection: Cybersecurity and Border Protection" in Panama City, Panama September 13-15. IMO's Henrik Madsen participated in the event…

30 Jun 2017

Port Co-operation, Maritime Security Meet of Argentina

A regional workshop focusing on this year’s World Maritime Day theme - Connecting Ships, Ports and People – has been held in Buenos Aires, Argentina (26-29 June). The event, organized by International Maritime Organization (IMO) in collaboration with the Argentine Maritime Authority (Prefectura Naval Argentina), aimed to promote cooperation between ports and designated authorities of participating countries through an open discussion and by sharing experiences and best practices related to maritime security. The workshop also reviewed the implementation of maritime security in the region and evaluating new or evolving threats. Specific subjects addressed included the establishment of national maritime security committees…

28 Feb 2017

Balancing Port Competitiveness and Security

Secure and efficient ports support a sustainable maritime sector and underline the interconnection between ships, ports and people. This was one of the themes outlined by International Maritime Organization (IMO) ' Javier Yasnikouski, Head of Maritime Security, who was speaking at the Hemispheric Conference on Port Competitiveness and Security, organized by the Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP) of the Organization of American States (OAS), in Miami, United States (22- 24 February). The event provided an opportunity to highlight the IMO World Maritime Day theme for 2017, "Connecting Ships, Ports and People". Yasnikouski commended…

01 Dec 2014

Barbados Works at Environmental Sustainability

Demonstrating leadership and commitment to environmental sustainability, Barbados Port Inc. has committed to work in partnership with RightShip to develop an incentive program encouraging more efficient vessels to their port. During the 1st Hemispheric Seminar on Port Legislation held in Montevideo on the 24-25 November David Jean Marie, CEO of Barbados Port and Anuj Chopra, RightShip’s Vice-President - Americas, signed a letter of intent to develop a port incentive program using the RightShip and Carbon War Room Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Rating. The port incentive program rewards vessels with better energy efficient ratings. Measuring their carbon dioxide emissions…

04 Nov 2014

NAMEPA Launches Mexico Chapter

Photo: NAMEPA

Last week’s North American World Maritime Day heralded the birth of a new NAMEPA (North American Marine Environment Protection Association) chapter in Mexico. Led by Alejandro Trillo Menchelli and Fernando Melo Graf of Stericycle, the chapter received support from delegates to this annual regional event. The conference was held in Cozumel, and featured a marine debris education session at a local high school, as well as the full participation of International Maritime Organization (IMO) Secretary-General Koji Sekimizu…

24 Apr 2014

Today in U.S. Naval History: April 24

A U.S. Navy RH-53D sweeping the Suez Canal in 1974 (U.S. Navy photo)

Today in U.S. 1884 - USS Bear left the New York Naval Shipyard as part of the Greely Relief Expedition. USS Thetis would join the mission a week later, with USS Alert also joining on this mission. The Greely Expedition was marooned in the Arctic. Greely and six other survivors were found at Cape Sabine, 23 June 1884. 1959 - Organization of American States asks U.S. 1981 - RCA delivers to the Navy, NOVA I, the 1st production unit of the improved navigational satellite. For more information about naval history, visit the Naval History and Heritage Command website at history.navy.mil.

25 Apr 2013

Treasure Hunters File Another Suit Against Columbia

Sea Search Armada's (SSA) lawsuit against the Government of Colombia in U.S. District Court, Washington D.C. claims it interfered with SSA's legitimate treasure salvage operations. The galleon San Jose carried coins and precious metals mined and smelted in Peru, and valued by experts to between $4 billion and $17 billion. The ship was sunk outside Cartagena, Colombia in 1708. In 1980, a marine salvage operation was mounted by a group now owned by SSA with the permission and participation of the Colombian government (GOC). After discovering the San Jose wreck site and notifying the GOC, the Colombians reneged on their agreement to share proceeds of any recovered treasure. In 1984, the Colombian Parliament enacted a law eliminating SSA’s claims to its property.

15 Apr 2013

American Investors and Colombian Government Battle over $17 Billion Treasure Salvage

A group of investors sued the Colombian government for preventing American salvage group Sea Search Armada from recovering San Jose, a ship that sank in 1708, often referred to as the “Holy Grail of Shipwrecks.” With numerous court rulings throughout the years, the battle has lasted since 1979. In a case filed March 29 with the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), a group of American investors claimed the government of Colombia violated their human rights by preventing them from salvaging their jointly owned property, a Spanish galleon sunk in 800 feet of water near Cartagena, Colombia. The investment group, named Sea Search Armada (SSA), brought the suit after more than 20 years of various legal efforts to affirm SSA’s initial agreement with Colombia.

15 Jun 2011

ADM Papp Testifies on U.S. Coast Guard Security Capabilities

ADM Robert J. Subcommittee. capabilities. For more than 220 years, the U.S. Coast Guard has safeguarded the nation’s maritime interests and natural resources on our rivers and ports, in the coastal regions, on the high seas, and around the world. The Coast Guard saves those in peril and protects the nation’s maritime border, marine transportation system, natural resources, and the environment. Coast Guard men and women – active duty, reserve, civilian and auxiliarists alike – deliver premier service to the public. military force of maritime professionals whose broad legal authorities, assets, geographic diversity, and expansive partnerships provide a persistent presence in the inland waters, ports, coastal regions, and far offshore areas of operations.

13 Sep 2009

Maritime Exercises Kicks Off in Panama

More than 4,500 personnel from 20 countries began a 12-day exercise in Panama City on Sept. 11 to train in a joint, multinational effort to ensure the security of the Panama Canal. U.S. and Panamanian officials held a formal opening ceremony Friday for Fuerzas Aliadas (Allied Forces) Panamax 2009, co-sponsored by U.S. Southern Command and the Government of Panama, in Panama City, Panama. Representatives of the 20 participating nations joined Jose Raul Mulino, Panama's Minister of Government and Justice, and U.S. Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Gerald W. Ketchum, Director of Stability for U.S. Southern Command, at the ceremony. FA Panamax 2009 is one of the largest multinational training exercises in the world, and is taking place in the waters off the coasts of Panama from Sept.

24 Apr 2009

This Day in Naval History – April 24

1778 - Continental Navy sloop Ranger captures HMS Drake 1862 - Battle of New Orleans; Union Navy under David Farragut runs past forts into Mississippi River 1884 - USS Thetis, Bear, and Alert sailed from New York to search for Greeley expedition lost in Arctic 1906- Ceremonies at Naval Academy commemorate John Paul Jones; President Theodore Roosevelt delivers speech 1917 - Destroyer squadron departs Boston for European service 1959 - Organization of American States asks U.S. to establish naval patrols off east coast of Panama to prevent invasion of Cuban forces 1974 - Naval forces begin minesweeping operations in the Suez Canal Zone 1981 - RCA delivers to the Navy, NOVA I, the 1st production unit of the improved navigational satellite. (Source: Navy News Service)

24 Apr 2008

This Day in Naval History - April 24

1778 - The Continental Navy sloop Ranger captures HMS Drake. 1862 - Battle of New Orleans; Union Navy under David Farragut runs past forts into Mississippi River. 1884 - USS Thetis, Bear and Alert sailed from New York to search for Greeley expedition lost in Arctic. 1906- Ceremonies at Naval Academy commemorate John Paul Jones; President Theodore Roosevelt delivers speech. 1917 - A destroyer squadron departs Boston for European service. 1959 - The Organization of American States asks the United States to establish naval patrols off the east coast of Panama to prevent invasion of Cuban forces. 1974 - Naval forces begin minesweeping operations in the Suez Canal Zone. 1981 - RCA delivers to the Navy, NOVA I, the 1st production unit of the improved navigational satellite.

23 Dec 2003

MARAD to Chair SecurePort Conference

The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD) will chair the SecurePort Conference in Miami on February 25-27, 2004, sponsored by the Organization of American States.

09 Feb 2004

SecurePort 2004 to be Held in Miami

SecurePort 2004, sponsored by the Organization of American States (OAS) and the Inter-American Committee on Ports (CIP), and chaired by the U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), will be held in Miami, Florida on February 25-27.

06 Jul 2004

Barberesi Retires from MarAd After 28 Years

Raymond Barberesi, most recently Director of the Office of Ports and Domestic Shipping at the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MarAd), retired effective June 26, 2004 after 28 years of Federal service. As a member of the Federal Government’s Senior Executive Service, Barberesi lead major MarAd and Departmental programs including the Marine Transportation System (MTS) initiative, having served as Executive Director of the MTS National Advisory Council for the past three years (www.mtsnac.org). Recognized as the leader of the MTS program at MarAd, Barberesi was instrumental in influencing the comprehensive maritime industry program proposals being advanced at the Department of Transportation under the now familiar title of SEA-21.

10 Jul 2002

Bautch Named Great Lakes Region Director for MarAd

Maritime Administrator Capt. William G. Schubert today named Doris J. Bautch as Director of the Maritime Administration's Great Lakes Region. In her new position, Bautch will report directly to the Maritime Administrator in support of all agency programs, including supporting and conducting supplementary training for personnel in the maritime industries and participating in regional port and intermodal transportation development activities. Bautch will be the first woman to head any of the U.S. Maritime Administration’s (MARAD) five regional offices. “I look forward to continuing to work closely with Doris in her new assignment,” Schubert said.

01 Aug 2002

GOVERNMENT: Terrorism Threat and the Immediate Reaction

by Dennis L. When the federal government began examining United States vulnerabilities in the days following the horrific terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, it quickly became apparent that significant weakness existed on the U.S. maritime borders. Many, but not all, of these weaknesses were systemic and derived from both the U.S. open society and the procedures underlying modern maritime commerce. The goal quickly became to reduce the risk of maritime terrorism while not fundamentally altering the efficiencies of the commercial system. It was quickly realized that the threat to the maritime sector consisted of two distinct types: explosives and other contraband being shipped as cargo (particularly in a container) and the ship being used as a weapon…

29 Sep 2004

Best Practices, Partnering Highlighted at AAPA Convention

The American Association of Port Authorities' (AAPA) new SHARE initiative prevails in full force this week at AAPA's 93rd annual convention, where partnering and sharing of best practices are taking center stage at the Long Beach, California, event. Seaports of the Hemisphere Allied in Relationships for Excellence - better known as SHARE - professes knowledge sharing and collaborative approaches as the port industry's best formula for successfully meeting industry challenges. In the SHARE spirit, the second round of the Environmental Management System (EMS) Assistance Project was opened this week. Nine ports participating in the successful first round reported immediate benefits…

16 Jan 2003

Bonner to Head Delegation to OAS Conference on Terrorism

Customs Commissioner Robert C. Bonner will head the U.S. delegation to the Third Regular Session of the Inter-American Committee Against Terrorism (CICTE), which will take place in El Salvador January 22-24, 2003. The conference agenda is designed to build on the momentum created by the adoption in June 2002 of the Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism, the first international legal instrument against terrorism adopted since the attacks of September 11, 2001. The meeting will expand the cooperative counterterrorism efforts undertaken thus far in the hemisphere and result in formal recommendations on counterterrorism issues to the Special Conference on Hemispheric Security planned for May.