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TSA to begin thorough background checks of 1.2 million aviation workers
TSA takes over from the FAA the task of background checks of 1.2 million U.S. aviation workers; this will be a “perpetual vetting,” as licensed aviation workers will be rechecked every time the Terrorist Screening Center’s database is updated, which happens almost daily
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Cities worry about toxic substances in freight cars
Water treatment facilities in Baltimore no longer use chlorine, but city residents are still exposed to risk because trains carrying the toxic substance to facilities elsewhere go through the city; city officials want to change this situation
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Acoustic sensors to protect borders, critical infrastructure
Two British companies offer an intriguing border, perimeter, and critical infrastructure protection solution: Sensors, using optical time domain reflectometry (OTDR), continuously monitor the length of existing or installed cable to detect, locate, and categorize security breaches every 10 meters over a 40 km length of optical fiber
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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
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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
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Bush administration in tactical retreat on SSN no-match rule
The administration accepts court criticism’s of August rule that a survey of the rule’s impact on small businesses should be conducted before it is finalized; DHS says it will complete survey by 24 March
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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
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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
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Ontario premier says new ID will ease border crossing
Dalton McGuinty, the premier of Ontario, says that DHS’s rule relaxation, allowing the use of an enhanced driver license instead of a passport to cross into the U.S., should ease such crossings during the holiday season — but that he still hopes Canadians will shop at home
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Growing concerns about security along the U.S.-Canada border
The U.S.-Canada border is twice as long as the U.S.-Mexico border; there are 12,000 federal agents patrolling the U.S.-Mexico border, along with National Guard troops, soon to be augmented by 6,000 additional agents; there are fewer than 1,000 border patrol agents keeping an eye on the U.S.-Canada border
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Border Web cameras along Texas-Mexico border go online again
Texas governor Rick Perry found the funds to have virtual watch up and running — again — as early as January; Texans can register to have 200 border cameras feed images to their home PCs; if they see people crossing the border, the can call or e-mail authorities
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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
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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
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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
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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
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The long view
Calls Grow for U.S. to Counter Chinese Control, Influence in Western Ports
Experts say Washington should consider buying back some ports, offer incentives to allies to decouple from China.