Unfair Reporting on Piracy, Says Nigeria
The Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Dr. Dakuku Peterside, has called on the International Maritime Bureau (IMB) to ensure fairness and balance in its reportage of piracy issues on Nigeria’s territorial waters.Dakuku regretted what he called the exaggeration of reports on incidences on the country’s waterways by the IMB, a specialised department of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) dedicated to fighting maritime crime and malpractice.The DG noted that the Agency had put mechanisms in place to reduce piracy to the barest minimum. These, he said, include investing in the satellite surveillance system…
Maritime Security Top Priority for Nigeria
Nigerian maritime industry has hailed President Goodluck Jonathan over what they called the "giant strides" he has made in the sector and lauded him for the steps it has taken to tackle the challenges. The Legal Adviser/General Secretary, MWN, Mr. Macjohnson Odey said parts of the achievements included human capacity development through the National Seafarer Development Program (NSDP) carried out by the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), shipyard and dockyard, and satellite surveillance centre. Odey said the present government is currently building a shipyard for repairs and maintenance of ships, barges, amongst others in Delta State and should be given the opportunity to continue so that it can complete all the projects it is executing in the maritime industry.
American Climate Project Invests in Kongsberg Technology
Following a contract signed on May 15, 2013, echosounders from Kongsberg will play a part in the American Ocean Observatories Initiative (OOI), for the monitoring of subsea life along both U.S. coasts. OOI is a cable-based array of scientific sensors designed to monitor the marine habitat. Everything from fish and plant life, to chemical, physical and geological changes will be measured. “Given the global climate changes, it is vital for researchers to learn as much as possible about ocean life and any changes that are taking place.
Raytheon Markets Maritime Defense System
The Globe is reporting that the cargo ship bears the name Osama. It's been registered in Syria. And it's steaming toward Los Angeles. That's the mock scenario playing out on a bank of giant plasma screens lined up for a demo here at Raytheon Co.'s Naval Integration Center on Narragansett Bay. The vessel has been tagged as suspicious based on data culled from shipping records. Raytheon engineers are using software to track its course. And they're combing databases tracing its history, ownership, and sister ships heading for US waters. Athena is part of a larger push by Raytheon, the nation's fifth-largest military contractor, into homeland security.
