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Area Maritime Security Committee News

12 Feb 2020

Stephens Elected PVA President for 2020

Colleen Stephens (Photo: PVA)

Colleen Stephens, President of Stan Stephens Glacier & Wildlife Cruises will be President of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) for 2020, the trade association announced.Elected during the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2020 held February 3-6, 2020 in Tampa, Fla., Stephens reaffirmed PVA's commitment to continuously improving safety in passenger vessel operations as well as the association's engagement in being good stewards of the environment. "PVA's Green WATERS program…

27 Jan 2017

Insights: Margo Marks -President, Beaver Island Boat Company

Margo S. Marks

Margo S. Marks is President/General Manager of Beaver Island Boat Company, Beaver Island, Mich. The company has provided passenger, vehicle and freight services, between Beaver Island and Charlevoix, Mich. since 1984. The first ferry service to the island began in 1890. B.I. Boat Company operates two subchapter K vessels with a capacity of up to 294 passengers and 16 vehicles on the larger vessel, and 172 passengers and 9 vehicles on the smaller vessel. Notably, Margo has deep roots in the Gresat Lakes community and graduated from the Great Lakes Maritime Academy in 1983…

08 Feb 2016

PVA Elects 2016 Leadership

Margo Marks (Photo: PVA)

During the PVA Annual Convention at MariTrends 2016 held January 23-26 in Crystal City, Va., members of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA) elected Margo Marks of Beaver Island Boat Company, Beaver Island, Mich. as PVA President for 2016. Margo Marks is President/General Manager of Beaver Island Boat Company, Beaver Island, Mich. The company has provided passenger service, vehicle service and freight service between Beaver Island and Charlevoix, Mich. since 1984. The first ferry service to the island began in 1890.

26 Jan 2016

Interview: Dave Anderson, President, Passenger Vessel Association

Dave Anderson

Dave Anderson is the President of the Passenger Vessel Association (PVA). He also serves as General Manager/Director of Operations of Fire Island Ferries, Inc., Bay Shore, N.Y. on Long Island. The company has provided passenger service, freight service and water taxi service to Fire Island communities since 1948. The firm operates 23 subchapter T and K vessels ranging from six to 400 passengers. Anderson, an honors graduate from CW Post Long Island University where he earned his BA in Communication Arts in 1984, also holds a 100 ton Masters license which he earned in 1983.

19 Aug 2015

Detroit Agencies Perform Maritime Security Exercise

Detroit Coast Guard members are participating in a Southeast Michigan Area Maritime Security Committee multi-agency table-top exercise Wednesday at the Detroit Fire Department Regional Training Center. The purpose of this exercise is to test plans and policies of federal, provincial, state and local area agencies in response to a transportation security incident. In accordance with the Homeland Security Exercise and Evaluation Program, a table-top exercise is a discussion based exercise. There will not be any resources deployed directly as a result of this exercise. More than 150 participants from 50 agencies are expected to participate in the exercise.

16 May 2013

Seattle Propeller Club Honors Veentjer and Dwyer

The Seattle Propeller Club announced the winner of the 2013 Puget Sound Maritime Achievement Award as Captain John Veentjer, Puget Sound Marine Exchange Executive Director, aboard Princess Cruises cruise vessel Sapphire Princess while berthed on Pier 66 at the Port of Seattle’s Bell Street Cruise Terminal during the 62nd annual Seattle Maritime Festival Luncheon. The Club also shared news of the selection of Captain John Dwyer, Officer In Charge, Marine Inspection and the Chief of the Inspection Division at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Puget Sound, as this year’s recipient of the Seattle Propeller Club’s Public Official of the Year Award.

10 Apr 2013

Moran Shipping's Capt. Steve Palmer Recognized

Award Ceremony: Photo credit USCG

Captain Steve Palmer, Vice-President Moran Shipping Agencies, receives USCG's Meritorious Public Service award. Making the presentation on behalf of the Commandant, Rear Admiral D. "The Commandant takes great pleasure in presenting the U. S. Coast Guard Meritorious Public Service Award to Captain Steve Palmer, Vice president and Quality Manager for Moran Shipping Agencies, Inc. for meritorious public service to the Coast Guard from November 1998 to April 2013. As a highly…

17 Jan 2013

Dean Corgey to Serve on Port of Houston Commission

Dean Corgey: Photo credit Port of Houston

Houston City Council appoints Dean Corgey, V-P of the Seafarers International Union Gulf Coast Region, to serve as member of the Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority. Corgey's appointment fills the seat previously held by Janiece Longoria, who was named Port Commission Chairman January 8 during a joint session of the Houston City Council and Harris County Commissioners Court. She had served as the city appointee to the commission since 2002. Corgey, a longtime organizer for the Seafarers Union and lifelong Houston resident…

16 Mar 2010

PVA Elects New Officers and Board

At the 2010 Passenger Vessel Association Convention at MariTrends in Tampa, Fla., the members of the PVA elected their new officers and board members. Captain Kevin Stier, River Cruises, Scales Mound, Ill. Captain Jay Spence, Massachusetts Bay Lines, Boston, Mass. Paul Belforti, Entertainment Cruises, Chicago, Ill. Captain Kevin Stier is the owner and operator of River Cruises. River Cruises offers two day overnight cruises on the Upper Mississippi River aboard the vessel Twilight. Captain Stier’s career started with him working on the Julia Belle Swain for the late Captain Dennis Trone, one of the original members of the PVA, throughout the span of his career Captain Stier has piloted the Julia Belle Swain, the Talisman and Twilight, of which he was instrumental in the construction.

29 Dec 2008

Members Sought for CG Security Committees

The US Coast Guard requests individuals interested in serving on an Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC) in any Captain of the Port (COTP) Zone, nationwide, to submit their applications for membership to their local COTP.  Applications should reach the COTP by January 21, 2009.  73 Fed. Reg. 79136  (December 24, 2008). (Source: Holland & Knight)

25 Jun 2008

Ports Conduct Security Exercise

Harbor residents of and will see increased law enforcement activity this Wednesday and Thursday as area emergency responders participate in a 2-day U.S. Coast Guard lead counterterrorism exercise. The exercise is designed to test the Area Maritime Security Plan that was mandated by the Maritime Security Transportation Act of 2002 (MTSA). The exercise will take place in both the Ports of Los Angeles and and include simulated bombings that law enforcement and fire agencies will respond to in real-time. The U.S. Coast Guard, FBI, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department…

08 Jan 2008

Members Wanted

The US Coast Guard seeks applications for membership in the Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC) Eastern Great Lakes, and five regional subcommittees: Northeast Ohio Region, Northwestern Pennsylvania Region, Western New York Region, Lake Ontario Region, and St. Lawrence Region. The AMSC assists the USCG Captain of the Port Buffalo in developing, reviewing, and updating the Area Maritime Security Plan. Applications should be submitted by February 7. 73 Fed. Reg. 1363 (HK Law).

08 Jun 2004

The Midas Touch

Minimizing the risk of a water-borne or delivered terrorist attack is no small responsibility. Maritime Reporter visited recently with U.S. Coast Guard LCDR Stephen M. Midas, Chief, Planning and Risk Management Department, Marine Safety Office Hampton Roads, for some insights. When historians document the early 21st century evolution of the U.S. Coast Guard, the current era will be considered a watershed for many reasons. In the midst of a dramatic transformation of assets and responsibilities, the Coast Guard, which was taken in whole into the new Department of Homeland Security, has been an exemplary extrovert in efforts to communicate…

22 Jun 2004

Ridge Addresses Port Security

New security measures are being implemented across the United States providing for safer ports in America, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge announced today. With the implementation of these international standards, in advance of the July 1st deadline, the U.S. is better able to harden the port’s physical infrastructure, verify the security of individual vessels before they approach a U.S. port, and better restrict access to the port area. Speaking from the Ports of Los Angeles/Long Beach…

10 Jun 2005

America's Western River: A Unique Security Challenge

Since 9-11 all facets of the media have combined to focus national policy makers, in and out of government, along with the general public on the asymmetric terrorist threat facing the United States and its global trading partners. Lengthy newspaper articles or Op-ed pieces, documentaries on television such as The Learning Channel and the Discovery Channel, along with talk radio banter have spotlighted multiple areas of concern. These have included airplanes, tanker trucks, critical infrastructure and the country's bustling seaports such as New York and Los Angles. The maritime nexus in particular has received a lot of attention as over 90 percent of the nation's commerce travels by water.

27 Jul 2005

USCG Admiral Testifies on Chem Facility Security

WASHINGTON - Coast Guard Director of Port Security, Rear Adm. Craig E. Bone, testified today on chemical facility security before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “Considering the vast economic utility of our ports, waterways and coastal approaches, it is clear that a terrorist incident against a facility in our marine transportation system could have a disastrous impact on public safety, the environment, our nation’s economy, and international trade. Such an incident, if it were to occur in a strategic port, could also threaten our military mobilization capabilities. An incident at one of the 350 chemical…

29 Jul 2005

Coast Guard Admiral Testifies on Chemical Facility Security

Coast Guard Director of Port Security, Rear Adm. Craig E. Bone, testified today on chemical facility security before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. His written statement submitted for the record, follows. "Good morning Madam Chairperson and distinguished members of the Committee. It is a pleasure to be here today to discuss the U.S. Coast Guard’s role in securing the chemical facilities on the navigational waterways of the United States. The men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security remain committed to improving maritime homeland security each and every day through continued interagency cooperation and assistance from our partners at the local, state and international levels, as well as maritime industry stakeholders.

17 Oct 2007

CA Ports Get Port Security Grant Money

The Department of Homeland Security awarded more than $6.1 million in supplementary Port Security Grant funds to the ports of San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond and Stockton, California. The San Francisco Marine Exchange was selected by the Coast Guard Federal Maritime Security Coordinator as the fiduciary agent to oversee the use of these funds on behalf of the Northern California Area Maritime Security Committee. The Port of Redwood City received an additional award of $33,000.00. These funds are to be used to enhance seaport security, mitigate seaport risks, and aid the resumption of seaport trade following an incident or disaster.

17 Nov 2006

MMA, M-P.A.C.T. Joint Program at Port Security Training

Maine Maritime Academy (MMA), in conjunction with its maritime security training partner, M-P.A.C.T., will launch a pilot program aimed at enhancing security at Maine seaports. The program, Maritime Security for Military, First Responder, and Law Enforcement Personnel, seeks to provide a single bridge solution to federal mandates, U.S. Coast Guard limited resources, and unmet public safety needs for maritime domain security awareness training in Maine. Organizers of the program foresee it as serving immediate regional needs while identifying Maine a model for other states to follow. Maritime Security for Military, First Responder, and Law Enforcement Personnel is set to debut at the Maine Maritime Academy campus in Castine, Maine, Nov.

09 Apr 2007

USCG – South Louisiana Area Maritime Security Committee

The US Coast Guard is seeking qualified applicants for membership on the South Louisiana Area Maritime Security Committee. This committee advises the Morgan City Captain of the Port/Federal Maritime Security Coordinator on maritime security issues in South Louisiana. Requests for membership should be submitted by July 1. Source: HK Law

02 Jul 2007

Coast Guard Seeks Applications for GoM Area Security Committee

The US Coast Guard seeks applications for membership on the Gulf of Mexico Area Maritime Security Committee (GOMAMSC). The committee advises the Eighth District Commander on maritime security issues for that portion of the Gulf of Mexico that is within the Eighth Coast Guard District and outside of state waters. Applications should be submitted by August 1. Source: HK Law

16 Aug 2007

Port Security Grant Funds Available

The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA) said that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) that it has made available an additional $110m in fiscal 2007 Port Security Grant funding. The money, to pay for security improvements in and around America's public ports, was part of a compromise Iraqi war appropriations supplemental bill that was signed into law last May. Currently, the Port Security Grant program divides eligible ports into four tiers, based on their perceived risk, with top tier ports receiving the lion's share of the available funds. According to DHS, changes in the way the grants are being distributed for the fiscal 2007 supplemental round will impact both Tier I and Tier II grant recipients.

21 Aug 2007

Port of Philadelphia Conducts Security Exercise

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the U.S. Coast Guard will sponsor a port security exercise in Philadelphia to evaluate preparedness, prevention and the ability to respond to a terrorist-related incident. This exercise, beginning Thursday at 8 a.m., will feature participation from the tri-state Philadelphia port community, including public and government agencies, and private industry. The goal of this exercise is to improve the connectivity of various surface transportation modes and enhance current area maritime security plans. Scenarios range from how officials and industry react to an explosion on the Benjamin Franklin Bridge to additional suspicious, terrorist-related activity around the port.