Members Area

First, we would like to thank you for taking the time to register and support the Association as it promotes the professionalization of security within the maritime security industry.

We have heard a lot about maritime security in the past. What we have very rarely seen is the full scope of maritime security brought into one single, coherent picture. In 2010 and 2011, the media made piracy the most prevalent topic–capturing the attention of the world and the plight of seafarers as they passed through high risk waters as part of the efforts that make up our supply chain. Previously, the concerns centered around port security and the potential for weapons of mass destruction, illegal migrants or contraband to pass through those key nodes within our transportation systems. While these challenges have not been addressed, it should be clear to all involved here that they are simply a couple of faces on the jewel of maritime security.

We have also seen a significant focus on the physical security within the community. Again, this represents a single facet of the issue. While it is vitally important, we ignore issues such as Cyber Security, SCADA security, and other kinds of technical network security at our peril. We rely on the information that flows through these systems (or controls them in the case of Process Control Systems) to maintain the maritime industry’s ability to operate at the level of efficiency and capacity to support our economic engines. In short, it is a vital element in the overall picture.

When you support IAMSP, you are supporting a truly collegial and professional effort. It was a conscious decision by the founders of this Association that we would look to take the high road in all things we do–be it in how we look to develop training or how we relate with other Associations. We do not believe in exclusivity nor do we believe that the way to achieve success is by either hiding the contributions of other groups or Associations in this realm. These important aspects of the Association are enshrined in our Code of Practice and Constitution. As a community, we are all striving to better the industry and while, like most siblings, there will be the occasional disagreement in how to approach things, those disagreements pale when looking at the bigger picture–the protection of the maritime industry and the efforts to provide that industry with more of the tools it needs to accomplish that task.

For this reason, whether you are a guest for one day or have taken the plunge to become a full member, I welcome you aboard. We are an association that prides itself on its transparency and its ability for its members to reach out to each other and into the industry. So we welcome you into the fold and look forward to your participation in the discussions, projects, and other efforts that will be put forward. We also look forward to being able to share the rewards of those efforts.