Management Appointments at Modern Terminals
Modern Terminals Limited (MTL), Hong Kong’s longest established container terminal operator, today announced the appointment of Mr. Keith Saunders as its new Managing Director – Hong Kong, effective from 1st February 2016. Mr. Saunders will lead Modern Terminals’ Brand Promises initiatives in Hong Kong, especially in the areas of operational excellence, innovation and infrastructure development. Mr. Saunders brings three decades of container terminal and operating systems experience to Modern Terminals. Prior to joining the company, Mr. Saunders held a number of senior management positions in American President Lines (APL) focusing on US West Coast terminal, rail and cargo management operations.
Port of Long Beach Awarded FEMA Security Grants
The Port of Long Beach’s Security Division has been awarded $3.4 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants to fund ongoing projects that protect the port. The grants will enhance port security systems such as physical security equipment and monitoring and detection systems, including the Virtual Port System, and improve the resiliency of port security systems, the port said. “Protecting workers and the community, as well as ensuring business continuity, are top priorities at the Port of Long Beach,” said Lori Ann Guzmán, President of the Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners. FEMA, which is part of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security…
TWIC’s Last Hurdle is Scaled
Card reader technology is tested, proven and in use, nationwide. While the maritime industry awaits the Fed’s edict on MTSA, the solution already exists. The Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) requires that individuals needing unescorted access to MTSA-regulated Facilities and Vessels must first obtain a TWIC. To obtain a TWIC Card, an individual must meet certain eligibility requirements and pass a security threat assessment conducted by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). Individuals are then issued a tamper-resistant credential containing the cardholders biometric fingerprint data, which provides a conclusive link between the card and the individual cardholder. To date, more than 2 million of these credentials have been issued.
PORT SECURITY: Status Report since 9/11
This article focuses on the necessity to craft an effective network system while meeting the government's objectives in the basic rules for security and surveillance of Ports throughout America. This approach explores, from a programmatic perspective, the notion that dealing with the safety issues facing Homeland Security can be successfully accomplished only if technology interconnects the various agencies defending our Ports. It should be noted that system integration can be achieved with technology that exists today, incorporating wireless and broadband services through a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to which all United States Administrators of Defense will have access. Defense budgeting with the intent to fight terrorism is here to stay.
Senator Introduces Port Security Bill
According to sources, U.S. Sen. Susan Collins said the government needs to do more to protect port cities such as Portland, Maine and she has introduced a bill called The Greenline Maritime Security Act. to make that happen. Collins said that the U.S. can minimize the risk of a terrorist attack by inspecting the millions of cargo containers that enter the country. While Collins admitted that it's impossible to eliminate the risk of a terrorist attack completely, she said the U.S. needs to address the flaws in its current port security systems. At the same time, she added, the new measures must not slow down the pace of commerce. She said that last year alone, 11 million containers arrived by sea in the U.S., and that number is growing at a rate of 10 percent a year.
