October 2012 Recently, it seems to be an increasingly popular move for prominent politicians to pick on the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, commonly known as the Jones Act. Senator John McCain recently deemed the act “protectionist” and arguments in its favor “laughable.” Established to insure that our country has a vibrant United States maritime industry, […]
Small Vessel Security Strategy
When we think about piracy and maritime security, we often imagine large cargo ships or oil tankers being help hostage for huge ransoms. Indeed, those stories often garner the most attention from national and international media. But much of the focus from within the maritime security has recently shifted to controlling the movements of the far more numerous […]
Guyanese Pirates
This past Sunday morning, Guyanese authorities captured a vessel and several people who were reportedly conducting pirating on the Pomeroon river, a recent hotbed of local piracy. According to the Minister of Public Works, Robeson Benn, a quick, coordinated response by several arms of law enforcement resulted in a crew of fisherman being saved and a crew of pirates being […]
Nationwide AIS to Begin Operational Test and Evaluation
The United States Coast Guard will begin testing a new Nationwide Automatic Identification System that will help insure the safety, security and efficiency of all maritime activities going on within the territorial waters of the U.S. Developed by Northrop Grumman, the Nationwide AIS gives authorities a informational 360-degree view of vessels coming into […]