MITAGS/PMI’s Offers New Security Officer Training Program

Glen Paine, Executive Director, the Maritime Institute of Technology & Graduate Studies (MITAGS) and Pacific Maritime Institute (PMI) has announced an upgrade in their Security Officer Training program which is now called, “Security Officer Training – Port Facility, Company and Ship.” Since September 11, 2001, the maritime industry has come under increasing pressure to improve security awareness and develop security measures appropriate to the threat level for all passenger and cargo vessels and the port facilities they call on. The Department of Homeland Security has published an interim rule in the Federal Register and will issue its final rule on November 25, 2003. The rule is intended to implement strong Port State Control measures to aggressively enforce these regulations, including tracking the performance of all owners, operators, port facility managers, flag administrators and recognized security organizations. The MITAGS/PMI Security Officer Training incorporates this Interim Final Rule, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) amendments that contain the International Ship and Port Security Code (ISPS Code), which comes into effect in July, 2004, and the U.S. Coast Guard NVIC 10-02. The Coast Guard has concluded that they will impose their new requirements on many U.S. inspected vessels, towboats and foreign vessels. Oil, chemical and dangerous cargo facilities and all vessels on International voyages must comply with these regulations. Many Facility, Company and Vessel Owners/Operators may not be aware of the new requirements. For example, security plans must be submitted to the U.S. Coast Guard for approval by December 29, 2003 and Part B of the ISPS code is mandatory in the U.S. In an effort to help port authorities, port facility managers and vessel owners/operators develop and implement their security plans, MITAGS/PMI now includes the Port Facility element into their successful, three-day Company and Ship Security program. The MITAGS and PMI have tailored this course to provide practical, comprehensive, and effective approach to solving these new maritime security challenges. The MITAGS and PMI Security Officer training program will serve as an invaluable resource to managers who need to learn more about these requirements, conduct a risk-based security assessment, identify the critical elements of security plan, identify suspicious behavior and materials, identify crowd behaviors and their impact on security management, learn search techniques in a marine setting and identify types of security equipment. This three-day program has been designed to assist Companies and Managers meet the new security requirements and, more importantly, prepare their organizations, facilities, vessels and personnel for the post 9/11 world.