Transport Policy

TSA chief discusses trusted-traveler pilot

admin — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 08:40:35 +0000

Transportation Security Administration chief John Pistole answers questions about a new trusted traveler program in this Q-and-A. He says participating travelers may not always be expedited through security. “There’s a possibility and a probability as the system matures, but it won’t be a guarantee because I don’t want terrorists to start flying a lot and being able to game the system. That is the downside for those who want and recognize the benefits,” Pistole says.

Source: Travel Weekly

Alleged stowaway indicted, could face prison time

admin — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 06:57:19 +0000

A man who allegedly stowed away on a commercial flight using an expired boarding pass was indicted on Friday. Olajide Oluwaseun Noibi, 24, was arrested last month at Los Angeles International Airport, where he was trying to board another flight with an expired pass and without proper identification. He could face up to 15 years in prison. Authorities do not believe that Noibi was involved with terrorism, but his alleged actions have raised questions about airport security.

Source: CNN

Interpol: Airlines are a “special target” for terrorists

admin — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 07:29:35 +0000

The head of the International Criminal Police Organization this week said that al-Qaida remains the biggest threat to world security, despite the recent killing of Osama bin Laden. Interpol Secretary General Ronald Noble also noted that airlines continue to be the main targets of terrorists. “The airline and air industry continues to be a prime target for terrorists, but we’ve seen from recovered intelligence, etc., that they are also focusing a lot on mass transit. But airlines continue to be a special target,” he said. Reuters

Sniffer capable of detecting explosives could speed security lines

admin — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 07:32:18 +0000

A new machine that “sniffs” travelers for explosives as they pass through airport security checkpoints could speed up security lines. The technology, which was discussed during an International Air Transport Association conference, still needs refining before it can be used at airports. Meanwhile, airline executives attending the conference also learned more details about a screening system that would put travelers into risk-based categories. Reuters

Airports eye Pensacola baggage screening system

admin — Thu, 19 May 2011 11:50:50 +0000

Airports are closely watching the performance of a new baggage security system installed at Pensacola Regional Airport in Florida. The high-tech system is part of an $80 million expansion program. “You check in at the ticket counter, place your luggage there and within three and half minutes — unless your luggage alerts — that luggage will be at the back of our ticketing area for the airlines to pick up,” said Melinda Crawford, the airport’s director. The airport will eventually add more lanes to the system, which will allow it to work even more efficiently.

Source: WALA-TV

Recent air security incidents reported following Osama bin Laden death

admin — Fri, 13 May 2011 07:02:02 +0000

Several incidents have occurred on U.S. flights in the past few days following the death of Osama bin Laden. The incidents include the diversion of a Delta Air Lines flight because of a “security concern” and travelers on another flight subduing a passenger who rushed a cockpit door.

Source: Bloomberg

BBC World Service – Armed Maritime Security

admin — Tue, 10 May 2011 13:35:23 +0000

Dear All,

Here’s the programme link for the World Service Network Africa interview broadcast this morning.

Be warned! The actual interview lasted around 20 minutes and has been edited to 2:30. Which is fine and does get the IAMSP message across I think.

If you want to skip straight to the interview start at 0:17:00 until around 0:19.30. The piece is headlined at the start of the prog also.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/emp/pop.shtml?p=/worldservice/meta/tx/flash/networkafrica.xml&l=en&t=audio

By John Dalby

Bulgarian Captain arrested in Cristobal Panama

admin — Thu, 05 May 2011 07:49:06 +0000

Bulgarian Captain Svetlozar Lubomirov Sobadzhiev was arrested in Cristobal Panama at 28.03.20011 for suspicions of drug smuggling. At the ship hi was commanding at that time “Maas Trader” was found about 169 kg of cocaine.
All the crew was arrested. After few day saying nothing, some of the crew (mostly Filipino) in his testimony blame captain Sobadgiev as organizer of all smuggling. Then ship and all rest of the crew was released and now they are doing his trade. Most probably after receiving a deposit from the ship owner.
Captain Sobadzhiev at the moment for more than 30 days is in jail in Panama without any interrogation and any questions about happened at all.
As all know the Master of the any vessel is responsible for everything happened on board. But in this case is more than obvious that the Master is not guilty if some like this was found.

It is against the human rights that somebody be captured in jail until some low court say this.
His health in the moment is in not very good condition.
Please help to rise the public opinion to release him from the Panama jail and to send him to Bulgarian court for further low investigation and a justice sentence.

BMP3 Citadel

admin — Thu, 05 May 2011 07:44:32 +0000

On the afternoon of 22 January 2011, the MV BELUGA NOMINATION was attacked by a skiff, with an unknown number of suspected pirates on board. Small arms were used against the vessel during the attack.

The attack took place in the Indian Ocean, 390 nautical miles north of the Seychelles. The MV BELUGA NOMINATION is an Antiguan and Barbudan flagged, German owned, general cargo vessel which was on passage to Port Victoria in the Seychelles at the time of the attack. There is no information on the condition of the mixed crew of 12 (Polish, Filipino, Russian and Ukrainian) at this time. EUNAVFOR are monitoring the situation.

MV BELUGA NOMINATION was registered with MSC(HOA) and had reported to UKMTO.

When the pirates boarded the vessel the crew went into a citadel which the pirates were eventually able to enter. It should be stressed that the use of a citadel by crew members does not guarantee a military response. Detailed guidance on the utilisation of citadels can be obtained from the Maritime Security Centre (Horn of Africa) MSC(HOA).

The nearest EU NAVFOR warship at the time of the attack was over 1000 Nm away. The warship was waiting to escort a World Food Programme (WFP) vessel delivering vital humanitarian aid to Somalia, which is EUNAVFOR’s primary task within its mandated mission. The remainder of the EUNAVFORs warships was even further away carrying out tasks in the IRTC (Internationally Recognized Transit Corridor), which is their secondary task within the mandated mission.

EUNAVFOR Somalia – Operation ATALANTA’s main tasks are to escort merchant vessels carrying humanitarian aid of the World Food Program (WFP) and vessels of African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM). EUNAVFOR also protects vulnerable vessels in the Gulf of Aden and Indian Ocean, deters and disrupts piracy. EUNAVFOR finally monitors fishing activity off the coast of Somalia.

First Combined Maritime Security Conference

admin — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 08:10:48 +0000

We are pleased to announce that planning and preparation are well undenrway for the 1st Combined Maritime Security Conference (MSC 2011), which will be held in Kiel, Germany during the period 2 – 5 May 2011 and will be executed in close cooperation of Combined Joint Operations from the Sea Centre of Excellence (CJOS COE) and the Centre of Excellence for Operations in Confined and Shallow Waters (COE CSW). The conference location will be Sparkassen Arena Conference Center with accommodation at the Atlantic and lnterCity hotels. This year’s conference will be organised by the CJOS COE and the COE CSW.

For more information download the calling notice by clicking here