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Maritime and Seaport Security

As Somali Piracy Grows Bolder, NATO Stays the Course

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March 29, 2012

Despite Defense Department budget cuts and ongoing military operations, pirates in the waters off the coast of Somalia won’t see a decrease in naval military presence any time soon. NATO allies recently agreed to continue through 2014 the Ocean Shield operation – a counter-piracy naval operation off the Horn of Africa protecting merchant ships from pirate attack. This is welcome news to many ship owners and charters, which have seen an increase in the number of pirate attacks in the Indian Ocean. The pirate threat and the international response seem only to be escalating.

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Piracy is Alive and Well and More Than Your Wallet is at Risk

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February 13, 2012

If you mention the word “piracy” to someone, chances are images of Johnny Depp’s character from Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, but the sobering facts are that savagery on the high seas is very real and becoming a costly circumstance that deserves more attention. The waters around the Horn of Africa are growing more dangerous, with pirates from Somalia continuing attacks on commercial ships. These attacks contribute to the $7 billion-$12 billion that maritime piracy costs the international economy each year. To address and discuss this international challenge with national impact, the National Chamber Foundation will host “High Risk on the High Seas: The Economic Impact of Piracy in the Indian Ocean.”

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Need an Icebreaker? The Coast Guard Does

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January 18, 2012

As the U.S. fleet of icebreakers continues to age and fall behind the world’s arctic maritime community, the vision and fortitude of U.S. decision makers continues to wane. The recent announcement by Shell Oil to launch their $200 million arctic icebreaker in April 2012 should send a shiver up the spine of every Coastguardsman and mariner who has considered how the United States will deal with the future of operations in the high latitudes.

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Customs and Border Commissioner Alan Bersin Resigns

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December 27, 2011

By Nelson Balido
Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin last Thursday announced his resignation effective December 30. For folks who monitor border trade and security issues, this wasn’t exactly a surprise. But it was still a disappointment. Nevertheless, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano made the right choice in naming deputy commissioner David Aguilar as the new acting commissioner.

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MARITIME FORCES AT WORK

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December 9, 2011

Recently, the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and Canadian Maritime Forces Atlantic strengthened this global network as they discussed the mutual homeland security and defense issues of the three maritime commands charged with protecting the East Coast.

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Coast Guard Auxiliary Offers Civilians Training

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November 28, 2011

“Students will be able to assume leadership roles within their community and take those skills and training into the workforce or military upon their graduation, or even stay within the Auxiliary,” he said.

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Thad Allen, the Joplin Tornado & a New Resilience

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November 28, 2011

Earlier this month, I was at Rutgers University and fortunate to hear retired U.S. Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen speak at the 2nd annual Maritime Risk Symposium. In his address, Adm. Allen developed a theme in discussing resilience that I believe bears greater and deeper discussion. He discussed the Joplin, Missouri, tornado devastation this past spring. At the center of this lesson is a school teacher – it is the story of Dr. C.J. Huff, the young teacher-turned-school superintendent who demonstrated resilience in practice.

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Former DHS Press Chief Defends Respose to Gulf Oil Spill

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July 22, 2011

Sean Smith: Ink Spill: Inside the Battle to Shape the News Coverage of Last Year’s Oil Gusher One year ago on Friday, the runaway oil well in the Gulf of Mexico was capped, ending one of the longest-running and most popular reality news shows in American history. At the time I was the Assistant Secretary […]

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The Coast Guard's Arctic Agenda Heats Up

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July 18, 2011

“FEMA will not save you,” said Michael Brown, former director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

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Coast Guard Blues – Spending Cuts Threaten Mission Capability

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July 11, 2011

No part of the federal government is more at risk in Washington’s mindless approach to budget cutting than the U.S. Coast Guard. By every responsible measure, the service is blinking red when it comes to the challenge of matching vital missions to capability. Yet, Congress appears ready to gut the service to preserve funding for “pork barrel” grants. No wonder the Coast Guard is singing the blues.

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