Maritime security - is it working?

The issue of Maritime Security has long stood accused of posing the shipping industry many more questions than answers.

Thankfully help is at hand, as a distinguished line up of maritime security experts looks set to dispel the myths, confusion, fear and loathing.

The Nautical Institute, West of Scotland Branch are set to welcome a panel consisting of authors, professionals, observers, and practitioners to the Glasgow Nautical College, in an event which looks set to bring some overdue clarity to the increasingly muddied waters.

The event to be held on 29th March 2007 is to take a global and local view on security, of ports, ships and of the communities that rely on them.

There will be a number of brief presentations followed by a debate asking such questions as whether, “ISPS is a success, failure or a missed opportunity?”

The line-up covers a divergent set of interests, from ports to ships, Customs to consultants – all have their own provocative views, but hopefully some answers too for the audience.

Security is an issue which has driven a wedge across shipping, it has placed demands on people, companies and entire sections of the industry and it’s infrastructure, so this is a real opportunity to join the debate and to help drive a call for answers.

Seminar co-chairman, Steven Jones, author of the book “Maritime Security”, says, “The Nautical Institute is rightly serious about getting a message to the highest levels...if security isn’t working we need to know why, and to address this. There is no point people simply shrugging their shoulders, come to this event and have a real say”.

Event organiser Captain Terry Hunter, told us, “This is a wonderful chance to see such a panel of experts, hopefully it is an opportunity that many will grasp and we will be able to show that Glasgow is a real centre of shipping knowledge by posing, not just questions but also many answers”.

To find out more contact Captain Terry Hunter MNI, on 01324 611296 or email mrshunter@lineone.net , alternatively see www.wosni.co.uk

The Nautical Institute is the world's leading international professional body for qualified mariners. Through its Constitution, the Council of the Nautical Institute is directed to ‘provide the strongest possible professional focus, dedicated to improving standards of those in control of seagoing craft, while maintaining the Institute as an international centre of nautical excellence.’

Founded in 1972, it is a thriving international professional body for qualified mariners, with 40 branches world-wide and some 7,000 members in over 110 countries. www.nautinst.org

The full line up of speakers:

Does The ISPS Code Work?
Steven Jones, The Nautical Institute

G8 Summit...Port and Law Working Together
Martyn Clark, PFSO Forth Ports

Ports Facing the IMO, Pirates and The USA
Michael Robertson, Douglas-Westwood Ltd

How Ports Can Emulate Airports
Ross McWilliams, CEM Systems Ltd

Vessel Targeting, and Searching
HM Revenue & Customs

Modus Operandi...Ships and Terminals Initiative
Bill Wingate, Crimestoppers

Improving Ship & Port Corporate Crisis Management
Dai Davies, Selectamark and Geoff Williams,
International Emergency Technical Response Institute (iETRI)