Security Seminar Series a Success

"An excellent and useful presentation. The program provided the high level information I needed to further my understanding of the new security regulations as they are currently written," said Tom Smith, VP Human Resources, QI & CSO, Canal Barge Company, Inc. Mr. Smith's comments were taken following the first of a series of seminars designed to explain the new Coast Guard Maritime Security regulations, published July 01, 2003, which was held at the New Orleans Airport Hilton Hotel on Tuesday, July 22, 2003. The seminar was co-sponsored by the Havnen Group of New Orleans, well known maritime consultants and The Maritime Group of New York, publishers of Maritime Reporter and Engineering News, Marine News, the Marine Security Sourcebook and marinelink.com . The presenters were Charley Havnen, Commander USCG (ret) who is experienced in the analysis and understanding of Coast Guard regulations and Pat Touchard, a very highly qualified HAZMAT and security consultant. Pat retired as LT from the LA State Police with extensive experience in law enforcement and was team commander of the LSP HAZMAT unit. Captain Ronald Branch, USCG, New Orleans Captain of the Port and Officer in Charge Marine Inspection, attended the seminar and addressed the group during lunch. Branch expertly fielded numerous questions and comments from the attendees. The lectures were supported by a power-point presentation, a reference binder and a compact disc. The seminar, as planned, progressed very rapidly to allow the large volume of necessary work to be covered in the one day allotted. All the power-point presentations were repeated in the reference binder which was furnished to all enrollees. Also included in this binder was an annotated copy of the new security regulations from the July 1, 2003 Federal Register, pertinent MARSEC related portions of NVICs and the CD. The CD contains all the course information, plus valuable tools for regulation compliance. The intent was to furnish seminar enrollees with the resources necessary to continue further training, or research, and to provide assistance in conducting security assessments and in writing security plans. There are five seminars in this series remaining, planned for different locations around the U.S. For more details or to sign up, please visit www.fleetsecurity.com