GSN Digital Edition April 2016

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Maritime/Coastal/Port Security Shipping industry benefits from low oil prices Posted by PortVision When oil prices fall, shipping companies experience a huge benefit in the lower cost of fuel as well as an increase in the demand for oil tanker storage space. One of the major operating expenses for shipping companies is fuel. Early this year, economists wondered if there was a bottom to the price of crude. The reality is that oil prices are cyclical. But the recent lifting of Iran’s oil sale sanctions and the new ability for the US to export oil will most likely keep oil prices on the low side for the foreseeable future, as reported in the Wall Street Journal. Iran is expected to offer $1 million barrels a day to the marketplace and the US has more than $10 billion worth of excess oil stored in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, so it does not need to limit oil exports. Added to this, oil shale operations can be profitable when oil is selling at $40 a barrel – and once consolidation in that industry has slowed and technology has improved, the oil will flow steadily from this source. Hellenic Shipping News reports that daily rates of oil tankers have increased from $25,000 a day in 2012 and 2013 to as much as $90,000 in 2015. Contango, the storage of oil in offshore vessels, has increased measurably. Lower costs for fuel allow shipping firms to focus on operational efficiencies: adding new routes that were once unprofitable, taking on delayed infrastructure upgrades, purchase of vessels with greater cargo capacity, investment in technological innovations. Less expensive fuel also leads to lower costs in shipping dry cargo, although the overall downturn in the global economy, especially the falling demand from China, has stressed this area of the shipping industry. In February, Reuters called this a crisis for dry-bulk shipping firms. However, Maersk, the world’s largest container shipping line measured by capacity, reports strong growth in shipping volumes in early <strong>2016</strong> compared to last year. Its shipping from Asia increased almost 15% prior to Lunar New Year celebration factory shutdowns. Vessels up and down the Asian coasts have been sitting idle waiting in Singapore, Indonesia and China ports for cargoes. The balance between capacity and market demand is especially challenging at present. The Wall Street Journal cites the Baltic Dry Bulk Index – which measures commodity shipping prices – remains 74% below 2015’s peak hit just in August. Oceaneering helps our customers navigate the complexities associated with marine shipping and liquid cargo terminal management through the PortVision AIS vessel tracking service and TerminalSmart marine terminal management system. Visit www.oceaneering.com/ portvision for more information. 28
Shipping industry’s Cyber Security guidelines to protect AIS navigation BIMCO, the world’s largest international shipping association representing almost 60% of the world’s commercial vessels, in conjunction with CLIA, ICS, INTERCARGO and INTERTANKO*, have announced security guidelines for vessels involved in global shipping. Potential cyber vulnerabilities have become a major consideration due to the growing complexities of onboard operations systems and their linking with many shoreside networks. Although vessels can control the cyber-security of their own systems, they have less cyber-control over the multiple communications necessary with outside organizations. Real-time data flowing into and from a ship or onshore company opens up any system to attack. Navigation systems including GPS, AIS and ECDIS are extremely vulnerable to hacking, according to a June 2015 article in Marinelink.com. Now that AIS and ECDIS are mandatory for larger commercial and passenger vessels, there is an increased need for a focus on security measures. The same article cites an incident in 2014 involving the grounding of a US naval vessel in the Pacific Ocean that may have been the result of compromised software updates to its ECDIS charts. AIS position data can be transmitted incorrectly for security or fraudulent reasons and in 2013 GPS data was “spoofed” to disorient the navigation system on a luxury yacht. As described in the guidelines, an attack can range from using information gained regarding cargo confidentiality to achieving full control of a machinery management system resulting in financial loss or loss of life. The new guidelines categorize these threats by impact: low or limited adverse effect; moderate or substantial security breach, and high or catastrophic effect. Unauthorized access or malicious attacks may have significant consequences for navigation, safety, en- 29 vironment, operations and trade in international shipping. The guidelines suggest approaches that will make ships more resistant to threats of any kind. The first step is an assessment of current operations and systems. A description of possible threats is included to raise awareness of the importance of cyber-security. Some of these threats include outside exploitation from activists, criminals, terrorists, espionage organizations. Inside weaknesses are also identified, such as innocent data breaches or intentional damage from disgruntled employees. The guidelines include instructions on how to reduce the risk to the shipboard IT infrastructure as well as operations equipment connected to these systems. User and data management protocols are offered as well as a way to implement different levels of access based on users’ needs. Business-critical and commercially sensitive information needs a different level of protection than routine operating data. Development of response, recovery, and contingency plans follow, along with protection and detection measures that can be taken. Configuration of network devices and satellite and radio communication is discussed. Marinelink.com emphasizes the More on page 41
Page 1 and 2: Government Security News APRIL 2016
Page 3 and 4: NEWS AND FEATURES NICE’s Rodrigue
Page 6 and 7: LRAD ® Corporation Announces $490,
Page 8 and 9: What’s up with WhatsApp for Emerg
Page 10 and 11: Hazmat Science and Public Policy wi
Page 12 and 13: Government Security News Awards Pro
Page 14 and 15: At the end of the Awards Dinner, we
Page 16: for virtually everything else, rang
Page 20 and 21: CINCH and SIS introduce encrypted s
Page 22 and 23: Campbell on Crypto Cybersecurity an
Page 24 and 25: ODSecurity body scanners cut prison
Page 26 and 27: Maritime/Coastal/Port Security Port
Page 30 and 31: Maritime/Coastal/Port Security Mega
Page 32 and 33: Video Surveillance IMAX ® Film ‘
Page 34 and 35: Video Surveillance OnSSI receives H
Page 36 and 37: Video Surveillance DTI to provide C
Page 38 and 39: NICE’s Rodriguez: Technology cont
Page 40 and 41: U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Care
Page 42 and 43: GSN is pleased to announce that HID
Page 44 and 45: Coming Attractions - 2016 May Digit

GSN Digital Edition April 2016

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?