Maritime Security: An Introduction / Edition 1

by Michael McNicholas

Overview

The commercial maritime sector is highly vulnerable to theft and piracy, and presents a probable target for a major terrorist attack. The best way to prevent losses is to apply lessons learned in another arena-–the struggle to curb drug smuggling. This effort has shown that successes can be achieved when effective and comprehensive security measures and procedures are implemented at key initial links in the cargo supply chain. The integrity and security of whole system are improved when efforts are focused at the primary "choke point" – the load seaports and their ships.

This book provides practical, experience-based, and proven knowledge - and a "how-to-guide" - on maritime security. McNicholas explains in clear language how commercial seaports and vessels function; what threats currently exist; what security policies, procedures, systems, and measures must be implemented to mitigate these threats; and how to conduct ship and port security assessments and plans. Whether the problem is weapons of mass destruction or cargo theft, Maritime Security provides invaluable guidance for the professionals who protect our shipping and ports.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780123708595
Publisher:	Elsevier Science
Publication date:	12/14/2007
Series:	Butterworth-Heinemann Homeland Security Series
Edition description:	Older Edition
Pages:	472
Product dimensions:	7.25(w) x 10.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Michael McNicholas is the Managing Director of Phoenix Management Services Group in the USA, Panama, and Costa Rica, Operations Support Services (Panama), and Pathfinder Consulting, LLC in the USA. Michael has over fourteen years of distinguished and progressive Law Enforcement, Military, and Intelligence experience and, most recently, twenty years as Founder/Co-Founder of several successful professional security services corporations in Latin America and the USA. A former Non-Commissioned and Commissioned Officer (Direct Presidential Appointment) in the US Army, Mr. McNicholas served for nine years in Airborne Infantry, Military Police, and Military Intelligence units. Mr. McNicholas held a TOP SECRET security clearance in the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), where he specialized in counter-narcotics trafficking and international terrorism and served on the Vice President’s Narcotics Interdiction Task Force and as the CIA Liaison to US Coast Guard Intelligence. Michael designed, implemented, and managed the internationally-acclaimed seaport security program at Manzanillo International Terminal – Panama, the largest container port in Latin America. In 2003, he spearheaded the successful efforts to have Phoenix Management Services Group designated as the first “Recognized Security Organization” (RSO) by the Republic of Panama and the Dominican Republic. On behalf of the government of Panama, Phoenix evaluated and approved/rejected Ship Security Plans for over 2,500 ships in the Panama Registry. In the Dominican Republic, Phoenix conducted Port Facility Security Assessments and wrote the Port Facility Security Plans for two of the primary ports in the country. Mr. McNicholas is credited with co-pioneering the Maritime Security Team (Anti-piracy/stowaway/drug trafficking/terrorist) concept in commercial cargo shipping and has Maritime Security Teams deployed onboard container and cargo ships in the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – Commercial Seaports & Modes of Maritime Transport
Chapter 2 — Documentation, Financial Transactions, & Business Entities in Commercial Maritime Transportation
Chapter 3 — International and US Maritime Security Regulation and Programs
Chapter 4 — Vulnerabilities in the Cargo Supply Chain
Chapter 5 — Plagues of the Seas: Piracy & Stowaways
Chapter 6 — Drug Smuggling via Maritime Cargo, Containers, and Vessels
Chapter 7 — Terrorism and Commercial Maritime Transportation
Chapter 8 — A Strategic Blueprint for World-Class Seaport Security
Chapter 9 — Port Security Management
Chapter 10 — Threat Mitigation Strategies
Chapter 11 — Information Security and Assurance
Glossary

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

Practical, experience-based and proven knowledge for combatting piracy, drug trafficking, arms smuggling, and stowaways in port and on shipboard

Editorial Reviews

"The second edition of Maritime Security: An Introduction is the very best kind of security book. It is broad in scope and deep in detail. Its description of the maritime environment and seafaring culture is so comprehensive the reader can almost smell the salt air and hear the cries of the seagulls. Author Michael McNicholas is an experienced practitioner of maritime security, and it shows." —Security Management

From the Publisher