Maritime and Ports

Maritime Security: Better tracking of small craft needed
The Coast Guard use the Port of Miami to test the Visualization Tools for Situational Awareness and Emergency Response program; the Viz Tools program enhanced security at the port, but those in charge say there is still a gap in port security, and to plug it there is a need to know more about about registered small craft in the Miami area; more than 170,000 of these small boats and craft are registered
- Read more
HAI's systems offering protection from underwater threats
Critical facilities on or near water may be attacked not only from the air and land, but also stealthily from an enemy approaching underwater; HAI offers products to defend against such attacks; its underwater ROVs may also be used for search and rescue, exploration, and research
- Read more

IMO ship identification numbering scheme celebrates twentieth birthday
They did not wait for 9/11: Twenty years ago the IMO created a unique ship identification number scheme; since then, more than 45,000 vessels have been numbered and recorded
- Read more
DHS's ambitious nuclear radiation detection plan has its critics
DHS envisions a protective radiation system which will ring the United States with radiation monitors at ports, along isolated sea coasts, traveling the oceans, roaming highways in police cars, and even located at checkpoints and toll booths on routes into major cities — all connected to a central national command center and staffed around the clock; critics have their questions
- Read more

Inmarsat launches FleetBroadband
U.K. satellite company launches first fully IP-based broadband service for ships; service supports simultaneous voice and broadband IP data connectivity at up to 432 kbps
- Read more
TWIC's enrollment continues apace
DHS announces that ten more ports will enroll their employees in TWIC; since mid-October, enrollment has been taking place in twelve ports
- Read more

Organizational security: Alion takes stock and offer remedies
Organizations which take their security seriously want to evaluate continuously their security situation and security policies; often they also must see that they are in compliance with government security mandates; serious organizations should take a look at Alion’s CounterMeasures
- Read more
New Australian visa requirements for foreign maritime crew
Australia tightens maritime security: All nonmilitary foreign ship crew members — some 130,000 of them every year — now require a visa to enter Australia; nonmilitary ships include commercial vessels such as cargo vessels, cruise ships, and fishing vessels, and public or government scientific vessels
- Read more

Former CBP head says U.S. cargo scan plan is a "simpleton's approach"
Former head of U.S. customs says U.S. government’s plans to implement scanning of all air and sea cargo destined for the U.S. is a “simpleton’s approach” to supply chain security
- Read more
Canada's increasingly worried about Arctic vulnerabilities
The Arctic has immense oil reserves and mineral wealth, but Canada has been slow to protect its northern sovereignty; this becomes even more important as receding Arctic ice makes Canada’s northern frontier more accessible to uninvited guests
- Read more

Naval integration key to EU sea security
European naval and maritime leaders call for greater cooperation among EU member-states’ navies, police forces, and coast guards to bolster Europe’s port and maritime security
- Read more
Parker Hannifin buys Scan Subsea, KV Automation
Parker, eager to strengthen its offshore presence on floating platforms in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, acquires Norwegian manufacturer of power and production umbilical cables for subsea installations
- Read more

Cubic launches Maritime Security Program
Program aims to assist federal regulators and the international port and shipping community to achieve compliance with new seaport security laws
- Read more
CodaOctopus delivers first of three Underwater Inspection Systems to U.S. Coast Guard
CodaOctopus delivers first of three Underwater Inspection Systems (UIS) to U.S. Coast Guard; advanced, versatile system features several advanced technologies which allow for real-time 3D underwater inspection with accurate positioning (up to 10cm) for georeferencing
- Read more
DHS says its biometric-at-sea trial is a success
Coast Guard completes 12-months trial of technology which captures fingerprints digitally from illegal migrants apprehended at sea; Coast Guard then uses satellite technology to compare the migrant information against US VISIT’s data
- Read more

More headlines