Maritime Security and related issues dominated the packed agenda of the 37th Annual Paul Hall Maritime Center Advisory Board Meeting. The yearly conference took place June 10 at the Piney Point, Md.-based, SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education.Attendees included representatives of U.S.-flag shipping companies, officials from the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Maritime Administration, U.S. Military Sealift Command, Transportation Security Administration and International Labor Organization, and representatives of the union and the school.
Paul Hall Center Vice President Don Nolan welcomed conference participants and introduced SIU President Michael Sacco. After thanking those present for their participation in the meeting, Sacco said, “As all of you know, port security and shipboard security are the hottest topics in our industry….We’re all facing tremendous challenges when it comes to keeping our ships and ports safe.
“But we’re in this together— the unions, the companies, the Coast Guard, the Maritime Administration, MSC, the ports themselves, and the list goes on,” Sacco continued. “We’re all on the same side. It’s important to keep that in mind, especially when we get together on the various maritime security groups at ports throughout the nation. That type of cooperation and participation can only help when it comes to training seafarers and improving safety all around.”
Following his remarks on port and shipboard security, President Sacco briefed meeting participants on some of the Paul Hall Center’s accomplishments since the last advisory board meeting in 2002. Among the events Sacco cited were:
- The Paul Hall Center successfully transitioned to the amended STCW convention. This accomplishment was achieved by running a school with top instructors and staff who put together curriculums and assessments to provide companies with the safe, qualified shipboard manpower they need.
- The school opened a new hotel at about the same time of the last advisory board meeting. As a result of this addition, upgraders now have single-occupancy rooms, which makes for a more academically friendly environment.
- The school added a small arms facility as well as curriculums. The facility and courses were approved by U.S. Military Sealift Command. The school also added or improved other courses including Navigation Fundamentals, Marine Electrician, FOWT and others.
- A diesel engine that is useful as a training aid recently was added to the school’s training equipment inventory.
- The school continued operating a satellite school in Hawaii, providing STCW training which helped in the rebirth of the U.S.-flag cruise industry.
- The unlicensed apprentice program continues to draw numerous applicants from all over the country.
- The Paul Hall Center during the last two months has provided security training in Jacksonville, Port Everglades, Mobile, Houston, Lake Charles and New Orleans and aboard vessels. In addition, training has been scheduled on the West Coast to help companies meet not only vessel security officer training requirements but also general security awareness for the membership.
President Sacco thanked advisory board participants for their previous inputs and suggestions on how the school could achieve its varied objectives. “And make no mistake,” he said, “The advisory board’s input played a big part in helping achieve these goals (outlined above).”
SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez and Paul Hall Center Training Director Bill Eglinton then discussed the meeting’s agenda and outlined its goals.
The principal speakers for the gathering addressed the audience via a panel discussion format. Those giving presentations in their respective subject areas were: Cdr. Cindy Stowe, U.S. Coast Guard (USCG), “Implementation of the Maritime Security Transportation Regulations;” Robby Moss, Transportation Security Administration, “Transportation Worker Identification Card;” Cdr. Linda Fagan, USCG, “Port State Control Issues;” Mayte Medina, USCG, “Maritime Security Training;” Jim Zok, U.S. Maritime Administration (MarAd) and International Labor Organization, “Seafarer Identification Document Convention;” Todd Ripley, MarAd, “SOCP Mariner Administrative Card;” and Cdr. Ed Wingfield, USCG, “Mariner Licensing & Documentation Program.”
Panel members indicated that despite some setbacks in each of their respective areas, significant progress is being made in the implementation of all phases of port security requirements set forth in SOLAS Chapter XI-2, the ISPS Code and the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002. Collectively, they expressed strong optimism that most of the enforcement provisions would be in place by established deadlines.
At the conclusion of the panel’s discussion on Maritime Security and a question/answer session, meeting participants formed two working groups to discuss another pair of issues which have come to the forefront in the maritime industry: shipboard food sanitation and towing/coastal licensing. John Dobson and J.C. Weigman, both instructors at the Paul Hall Center, led the respective discussions.
In a related development, U.S. Homeland Security Department Secretary Tom Ridge on June 21 in Los Angeles announced that the nation’s seaports are ready to meet the July 1 deadline for international maritime security standards. Ridge made the announcement after touring the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.
“I’m very pleased to announce as of today, the United States is in full compliance with the requirements of this new standard,” Secretary Ridge said. “For the first time ever, through an international effort there will be one world standard for ship and port security.”
New security measures are being implemented across the United States, providing for safer ports in America. With the implementation of these international standards, in advance of the July 1 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, the secretary noted.
“Over 80 percent of world trade travels by sea,” Ridge added. “By taking a layered, cooperative and balanced approach to strengthening the international maritime system, we are not only further securing our country, we are also protecting U.S. economic interests and the global economy.”
In addition to the international requirements of the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, the United States has required vessels, maritime facilities and ports around the country to implement security measures by July 1, as part of the domestic Maritime Transportation Security Act that establishes a new, robust baseline of security for our nation’s ports. Vessels and port facilities around the country are now on target to meet the July 1 deadline for these increased security measures, as well. An estimated 9,500 vessels, 3,200 facilities, and 40 off-shore oil or natural gas rigs are directly affected.
Secretary Ridge also called on all citizens to do their part. “Be alert to things that seem suspicious. Securing our ports and waterways is a team effort— everyone, from local governments and private citizens to the international community play an important role in ensuring that our waterways remain open for business.”
Elsewhere, the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2005 (H.R. 4567) has passed the House of Representatives and is on the Senate calendar.
Among other things, this bill provides the following funding: $4.6 billion for operations of Customs and Border Protection; not less than $321 million (with conditions) for the development of the Automated Commercial Environment; $2.37 billion for operations of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; $65 million for expenses related to maritime and land transportation security grants and services; $5.17 billion for expenses of the Coast Guard; $697 million (with conditions) for the USCG Integrated Deepwater System program; and $125 million for port security grants.
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