Maritime security and law enforcement experts are gathering in Boston, Mass., this week at Maritime Security East 2014 to better understand maritime domain awareness and the challenges of port, waterway, and coastal security, environmental protection, safety, and law enforcement. One big lesson learned is that everything is just a little more challenging on the water.
A number of law enforcement agencies from the New England area that have specific duties and functions associated with the maritime environment are attending and participating, including the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators; Connecticut State Environmental Conservation Police; Marine Patrol Bureau, New Hampshire State Police; Maine Marine Patrol; Massachusetts Environmental Police; Division of Law Enforcement, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management; Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, Delaware State Police, Boston Police and Massachusetts Port Authority Police. A key topic of discussion is the importance of working together as partners, and ensuring that all partners are trained and certified to the same standard for boat operations.
Delegates attending Maritime Security East had the opportunity to participate in a special tour of the Massachusetts Port Authority’s terminals and security operations in the Port of Boston.
While participants discussed improving official partnerships, they also acknowledged the important contributions to security from pleasure boat operators and other members of the small vessel community, who are seen as s a valuable stakeholder and contributor to protecting the homeland.
Boston represents one of the nation’s leading port cities and is the maritime hub for New England with respect to oil and gas, container and cruise operations. Delegates attending Maritime Security East had the opportunity to participate in a special tour of the Massachusetts Port Authority’s terminals and security operations in the Port of Boston.
Robert M. Gauvin, executive director of Piracy Policy and technical advisor in the Office of Vessel Activities at U.S. Coast Guard Headquarters, discusses the DHS Small Vessel Security Strategy and Implementation Plan at Maritime Security East 2014. Photo by William Lusk
Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) Maritime Security Director Joe Lawless discussed the ongoing and successful collaboration between federal, state and local authorities within the Port of Boston. One example is the cooperative efforts that ensure the safe and secure passage of LNG ships that enter the port and pass through the busy harbor. Chief of Prevention, U.S. Coast Guard Sector Boston Cmdr. Jason Smith, Jay Spence, general manager of the privately owned commuter boat operator Mass Bay Lines, and Gary Williams, director of marine operations for GDF Suez Energy North America talked about the public and private partnership that enables these shipments to arrive in Boston without major disruption to the port’s movements.
Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) Maritime Security Director Joe Lawless discussed the ongoing and successful collaboration between federal, state and local authorities within the Port of Boston. One example is the cooperative efforts that ensure the safe and secure passage of LNG ships that enter the port and pass through the busy harbor.
In addition to safety and security, participants focused on resilience and recovery. Cmdr. Anne Morrissey of the First Coast Guard District related her experiences while assigned to Sector New York as chief of waterways management during the Hurricane Sandy storm surge event.
The Gold sponsors for Maritime Security East 2014 are Terma North America and DMT Radar & Security Systems.
Other sponsors include the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators; the Bay Constable Benevolent Association; the Massachusetts Harbormaster Association; the New York State Harbormaster and Bay Constable Association; the Maritime Security Council (MSC); the Coast Guard Foundation; Global Security Finance; SCRA; SRI International; the Center for International Maritime Security; and Massport.