Secure Systems News

The global provider of classification and technical advisory services to the marine and offshore industries ABS granted Approval in Principle (AIP) to Hyundai Heavy Industries’ (HHI) Standardized design for a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) facility.Initially intended for operations in West Africa, HHI advises its standardized topside design is adaptive to a range of conditions, potentially offering reduced costs and shorter project timelines.“ABS is the world leader in Offshore and in FPSO classification. We have worked closely with HHI, using our experience in the sector to support the development of this innovative concept…

The United States Congress cannot legislate technology ... but it keeps trying. A case in point is the requirement for scanning in a foreign port of all containerized cargo bound for the United States (the so-called 100% scanning requirement). It was supposed to come into effect on 1 July 2012. That date has been pushed back to at least 1 July 2014, if ever. The major reason for the delay is that no equipment capable of scanning maritime shipping containers in a practicable manner has been invented. The law, though, remains in place.

Firewall Connectors Now Available from API Technologies' Spectrum Control Product Line. API Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:ATNY) ("API" or the "Company"), a provider of electronic systems, subsystems, RF, and secure systems for defense, aerospace, and commercial applications, announced today the availability of Firewall Connectors from its Spectrum Control line of military circular connectors. Firewall connectors are highly reliable and designed to prevent fire or spark from penetrating t hrough a sealed bulkhead. "We have combined our expertise in military circular connectors with our own structural ceramics incorporating firewall features to make these bulkhead connectors an ideal choice for high performance aircraft…

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) issued the report of its examination of the DHS Plan for Implementing Secure Systems of Transportation. The report notes that the Department submitted its report to Congress two and one-half years late. The report addresses the status of a variety of DHS programs, including C-TPAT, CSI, ATS, ACE, SFI, ISPS, and MDA (the full names for all of these abbreviations are used in the report). OIG-09-03 (11/21/08). (Source: Holland & Knight)

Thank you for that introduction; it is a pleasure to be with you again for this important conference. One year ago, we all met like this in Nashville and I joked that I might try to get a gig on Nashville Star, singing some cheesy country song about testifying on Capitol Hill. It’s too bad the TV show CSI isn’t actually filmed here in Vegas. With this group in town, we could do an episode that highlights the Cargo Security Initiative – call it CSI on CSI. When I actually got around to saying something of substance last year, I spoke a bit about the “complacency gene” that we all have – the tendency to default into a careless loss of focus. Well, I bet if those CSI folks ran some tests, they would still find evidence that it exists.

Buried in the Trade Act of 2002, which was signed into law Tuesday by President Bush, are several provisions of great potential impact on maritime interests involved in international trade to or from the United States. The Customs Service is now authorized to require that information pertaining to cargo destined for importation into the United States or exportation from the United States (such as cargo manifests) be transmitted to the Customs Service through an electronic data interchange system prior to such importation or exportation. With regard specifically to waterborne cargo destined for export from the United States, no shipper (including an NVOCC) may tender such cargo to a vessel carrier unless the cargo has been properly documented with the Customs Service.

After a series of procedural maneuvers, the 107th Congress adopted the Maritime Transportation Security Act as one of its final bills prior to adjournment. President Bush signed measure into law on November 25, 2002 (Public Law 107-295). The new law represents the most significant expansion of maritime and port security authority since enactment of the so-called Magnuson Amendment in 1950. This Act contains a number of provisions authorizing the Coast Guard and other agencies to establish maritime security standards and mandate certain security enhancements to be undertaken by maritime industry. The Act requires facility and vessel vulnerability assessments to be done by the Coast Guard.

After two years of machinations within Congress, involving various federal agencies and with some input from the private sector, the United States finally has a Maritime Transportation Security Act. This measure, when fully implemented, will impose broad security requirements on the maritime industry. It will also put the United States out of step with other nations with regard to various aspects of maritime security. This bill is a combination or synthesis of measures adopted separately by the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Senate passed the Port and Maritime Security Act of 2001 on December 20, 2001. The Maritime Transportation Antiterrorism Act of 2002 passed the House of Representatives on June 4, 2002.