The California Maritime Academy Department of Sponsored Projects and Extended Learning (SPEL) received a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security administered through the California Emergency Management Agency.
By Patrick Burnson
Published: March, 2010
The California Maritime Academy Department of Sponsored Projects and Extended Learning (SPEL) received a $200,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security administered through the California Emergency Management Agency. The funds will support curriculum development and delivery of DHS-approved training courses to California emergency responders and maritime industry professionals. The courses will be delivered tuition-free to qualified residents of the state and to individuals employed by certain regulated entities within the state.
SPEL will deliver the First Responder Operational Maritime Security Course up to six times at various locations. The training is designed for first-response personnel who may respond to incidents on vessels or facilities regulated under the Maritime Security Transportation Act of 2002.
SPEL will also deliver its Combined Company, Vessel, and Facility Security Course up to six times at various locations throughout the state. The target audience is prospective or designated Company, Facility, or Vessel Security Officer (CSO, FSO, or VSO) personnel. This course qualifies licensed mariners for their VSO endorsements as required by 33 CFR 104.215(d).
Another portion of the grant will underwrite SPEL development and delivery of an Advanced Vessel Security Course designed to teach skills needed to survive a vessel terrorist or piracy incident. SPEL plans to deliver the course in Humboldt, San Diego, Los Angeles/Long Beach and at its Vallejo campus. It will serve individuals designated as Facility Security Officers or holding Merchant Mariner Credentials with VSO Endorsement.
Finally, SPEL will facilitate and document the development of a statewide curriculum plan for land-based firefighters and aquatic rescue personnel who respond to fires and incidents aboard vessels, both onshore and offshore. Working directly with California State Fire Training, members of the California Surf Lifesaving Association, fire departments and marine operators, Cal Maritime will identify the curriculum elements of a comprehensive marine firefighting response and aquatic rescue program. Program components will include but not be limited to vessel familiarization, training considerations, pre-incident planning, and special hazards encountered by land-based firefighters to extinguish vessel fires safely, and efficient execution of rescue/fire response vessel operations.
Port of Oakland Looks Forward to a Better 2010
While acknowledging that the past year was disappointing, the Port of Oakland’s maritime director is telling shippers that 2010 shows more promise. “The Port of Oakland has met the challenges of a transformative 2009, and we are buoyed by stronger economic signals and trade growth on the horizon,” said James Kwon, the port’s maritime chief, in a letter to major clients.
Among the achievements recognized by Kwon is the recently-signed 50-year agreement with Ports America to operate Berths 20 – 24. He also lauded the Maritime Air Quality Improvement Plan, which represents the port’s blueprint for reduction of emissions by 85 percent by 2020.
“In June, we achieved another major environmental success with the adoption of the Comprehensive Truck Management Program (CTMP), which in part bans pre-2004 trucks from serving the port that have not been retrofitted to reduce diesel particulate matter,” Kwon noted. Recent reports suggest that more than 90 percent of trucks serving the port are in compliance with these requirements. “The CTMP does not introduce any new fees, minimizes bureaucratic burdens, and allows both independent owner-operators and employee drivers to continue to serve the port,” said Kwon.
Like all West Coast ocean cargo gateways, Oakland saw a decline in container throughput. Kwon admitted that this was disappointing, but, in relative terms, not a crisis. “Our 2009 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU) volumes were down only 8 percent from 2008,” he admitted. “But our outbound volume actually increased 6.5 percent. These numbers reflect strong performance in a weak global economy, and are the healthiest of any U.S. West Coast port.”
Oakland also joined the five other major West Coast ports, together with Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway, to create the U.S. West Coast Collaboration. This group will collectively market the advantages of the Pacific Rim.
