The Port of Blyth recently held a multi-agency exercise in late September, facilitated by our joint venture partners State 21 Ltd.
The exercise involving Police, Fire and Rescue, Border Force, along with Port of Blyth staff and Reay Security, tested both the Port’s preparedness for emergencies and in particular their response to security incidents.
Martin Willis, Port of Blyth Harbour Master/Port Facility Security Officer, said: “As a growing Trust Port it is of vital importance that the systems, plans and procedures we have in place to deal with emergency situations and security incidents are fit for purpose.
“State 21’s recent assistance with testing our readiness, contingency and business continuity planning for responding to such events was invaluable as their expertise of emergency planning and response ensured that all potential eventualities were tested fully and that the Port’s protocols for such scenarios remain both robust and effective.”
State 21 is a resilience management consultancy delivering training, exercises and de-briefing at strategic, tactical and operational levels.
Richard Rowland, Managing Director of State 21, also commented: “We were delighted to help such a forward-thinking Port to test their plans and to facilitate a multi-agency exercise, which enhances both Port Security and emergency response.
“Port of Blyth should be rightly proud of their continuing focus on making the Port more secure and as a result more attractive to business.”
The Port of Blyth, in Northumberland, is the operating division of Blyth Harbour Commission, an independent statutory trust port established in 1882.
We’re hoping to hear the Home Office’s response to questions about security on the coast when we attend the next meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Maritime and Ports.
The influential parliamentary group wrote to the Government about the issue following our appearance at its December meeting at Westminster.
Together with our joint venture partners State 21, we outlined the main areas of concern during a presentation titled ‘How secure is our coastline?’
A centralised command and control structure, multi-agency operations and co-ordinated intelligence gathering were among the points of debate at the meeting.
Former First Sea Lord Admiral Lord West of Spithead, said that a centralised capability of command and control to improve inshore security was ‘exactly what was needed and something he has proposed in the past’.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group agreed to seek Government assurances about measures to bolster Great Britain’s inshore borders in the fight against such threats as people smugglers, organised crime, illegal fishing, terrorists and drugs gangs.
Now we will return to the Group’s meeting on January 30 and hope to hear the Government’s response.
The meeting will also include a presentation from Malcolm Brown, who is Director of the National Maritime Information Centre titled ‘Maritime Surveillance: what happens at the National Maritime Information Centre’.
His presentation is sure to be of interest, bearing in mind the implications for coastal and maritime security.
Terrorism and illegal immigration continue to remain high on the national agenda. Illegal fishing, people trafficking, drug smuggling and organised crime must also play a major role in any consideration of coastal and maritime security.
With multiple agencies involved, a firm focus is needed to ensure progress is made to make our 13,900km of coastal borders more secure.
This is particularly important when the maritime sector’s direct contribution to the economy is estimated at about £13.8billion, not to mention the growing threat from terrorism.
TMG and State 21 have the knowledge, experience and expertise to provide solutions for all of your maritime security needs, whether that is ashore, on board ship or in port.
Please contact us now to find out more about coastal security, the All-Party Parliamentary Group or discuss your requirements.
Attention has increasingly focused on coastal security since TMG’s presentation to the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Maritime and Ports.
Together with our joint venture partners State 21, we raised the key issues of concern to high-profile members of the Group at Westminster.
Coverage has appeared across the media, with the latest in Dockyard Magazine/Marine and Renewables Journal.
The article tells of our presentation at Parliament and the next steps.
You can read more here.
We’ll keep you updated about coastal security concerns.
Please contact us for all of your security needs – whether that is ashore, on board ship or in port.