Gloucester mayor wants review of port surveillance cameras

This may just be a good example of a lack of true collaboration among stakeholders in the initial grant planning process in this community. The amount of federal money pouring into maritime security funding, while criticized for being less than desired and necessary, has enabled many smaller port communities to upgrade their physical security resources. The concerns mentioned in this report about invasion of privacy, while certainly concerning to elements of the community, should have been vetted before the cameras were placed. In the big picture though, it is difficult to argue about cameras fixed in public areas. These have been fixtures in Europe and other locales for years. Law enforcement seems to have performed their due dilligence in applying for the funding that is surely adding value to a port facility in terms of threat mitigation.

Gloucester mayor wants review of port surveillance cameras

The Maritime Executive Magazine :: Suspect in Sexual Assualt Case Found Working On Cruise Ship

This is the second story this week I have seen where an employee of a sub-contractor has a criminal past that has gone undetected by the contracting company. The other involved a BP-contracted oil spill cleanup company supervisor accused of raping an employee. The supervisor had a related criminal history which could have uncovered his past prior to employment. The rationale is that it is the subcontractor's responsibility to screen their employees. I agree that contracts should specify which organization is responsible for conducting the criminal history check -- but isn't there a responsibility on the part of both contracting companies to spot-check their HR systems and processes to be sure the checks are being done? It would seem logical for Company Security Officers to be conducting spot-checks of sub-contractors to mitigate the risk that sexual predators are sneaking through the system, as they seem to be doing.

The Maritime Executive Magazine :: Suspect in Sexual Assualt Case Found Working On Cruise Ship

The Maritime Executive Magazine :: Introducing the Cargo Intelligence and Security Association

The Maritime Executive Magazine :: Introducing the Cargo Intelligence and Security Association

CNSNews.com - Act Now on Terror Threat to Key Oil Routes, Say Experts

It appears that there will have to be a concerted, global effort to rethink merchant marine security. It is becomming obvious to the average person in the US that large ships at sea are quite vulnerable to attack from small, maneuverable vessels. This is no news to the maritime community and defense/homeland security officials. Risk assessment, combined with renewed emphasis on equipping and training crew to use appropriate force technologies, will be key to developing mitigation strategies. It reminds me of how, as the narcotics 'wars' became more violent in South Florida in the 1980s, police agencies had to migrate from the trusty six-shooter to the autoloader pistols. The dynamic is the same: Higher risk means we need to have better firepower on the threats.

CNSNews.com - Act Now on Terror Threat to Key Oil Routes, Say Experts