 First of all, let us start with the fact that the modern piracy has absolutely nothing to do with the pirates of the past times, who you might have seen on the TV screen or met in the pages of the romantic novels. The maritime piracy has been a very serious issue in many areas of the world, but particularly and traditionally in Africa, South America and Asia. It is still there and it is still a great problem in need of solving.
Nowadays it is business worth billions and taking advantage of the flaws in the law and sometimes poor enforcement of the international law, as well as the ships being undermanned. The pirates of today are perfectly armed and present real danger to the people onboard vessels, and to the cargo they transport.
The subject problem keeps growing even though the patrols are organized by the powerful national involving modern navy vessels. The author of the book sheds some light on the problem if general, and supplements the information with the detailed analysis of the recent cases of international maritime piracy.
 The main idea of David Marley, the author of the present publication, was to assist all parties of the contemporary international maritime shipping industry, with getting more practically useful information on the piracy issues, threats and actual situation. The information and all materials contained in this book was developed on the basis of the historical factors considered important enough.
Of course, the book opens with the brief historical background, shedding some light on the real roots of the maritime piracy. After that the author starts dealing with the real problems of today's piracy, proposing some solutions to these problems and analyzing them. Apart from the general information, the author covered some of the issues specific to the United States.
The publication will be of great practical interest not only to all mariners but actually to anyone involved in the industry and caring about the human safety and security onboard ships. Needless to say that this is critically important today, maybe more than ever in the history.
 The main idea of David Marley, the author of the present publication, was to assist all parties of the contemporary international maritime shipping industry, with getting more practically useful information on the piracy issues, threats and actual situation. The information and all materials contained in this book was developed on the basis of the historical factors considered important enough.
Of course, the book opens with the brief historical background, shedding some light on the real roots of the maritime piracy. After that the author starts dealing with the real problems of today's piracy, proposing some solutions to these problems and analyzing them. Apart from the general information, the author covered some of the issues specific to the United States.
The publication will be of great practical interest not only to all mariners but actually to anyone involved in the industry and caring about the human safety and security onboard ships. Needless to say that this is critically important today, maybe more than ever in the history.
 The maritime ecosystem is intricate and comprises numerous entities that engage with one another. These entities include ports, ships, port authorities, maritime and insurance companies, customs, the shipping industry, banks, ministries, various commercial providers, and additional infrastructures such as railroads and airports. All these interactions are facilitated by sophisticated and diverse information and communication technology systems.
Commercial ports are classified as critical infrastructures for transportation due to their large-scale nature, where any degradation, interruption, or impairment of their physical or cyber systems can have severe repercussions on national security, health, safety, economy, and the welfare of both citizens and nations. They are characterized by a multitude of interdependencies with other entities within the maritime ecosystem. The effective operation of commercial ports is heavily reliant on the proper functioning of both their physical and cyber systems.
The substantial volume of critical and sensitive data, the information and services managed on a daily basis, the numerous entities that require service, and the interdependencies with other infrastructures necessitate robust security management. This book examines the current state of security concerning the critical information infrastructures of commercial ports and their supply chains, while also identifying gaps in the security management of these ports' CIIs, and proposing research directions and recommendations.
 The second edition of Maritime Security: An Introduction represents the pinnacle of security literature (the first edition is also accessible). It encompasses a wide range of topics while delving deeply into specifics. The portrayal of the maritime setting and seafaring traditions is so thorough that readers can nearly sense the salty breeze and hear the calls of seagulls. Author Michael McNicholas, a seasoned expert in maritime security, demonstrates his expertise throughout the text.
This volume offers practical, experience-driven, and validated insights, along with a comprehensive "how-to-guide" on maritime security. McNicholas articulates in straightforward terms how commercial seaports and vessels operate; identifies existing threats; outlines the security policies, procedures, systems, and measures necessary to counter these threats; and details how to perform security assessments and develop plans for ships and ports.
Whether addressing issues such as weapons of mass destruction or cargo theft, Maritime Security delivers essential guidance for professionals tasked with safeguarding our shipping and port facilities. New chapters concentrate on comprehensive government maritime security, United Nations legal conventions and frameworks, transnational crime, and migration. Updates throughout the text will present the most current information in this increasingly vital field.
It serves as an excellent introduction to the challenges confronting this crucial transportation channel, featuring three entirely new chapters and revisions to reflect the evolving landscape of maritime security, with enhanced focus on migration issues and transnational crime; furthermore, new contributors highlight legal security and cybersecurity matters.
 The first three decades of the LNG industry, i.e. until the end of the 1990s, were dominated by base load projects with long-term sale and purchase and associated shipping contracts, typically of 20 years duration. With such arrangements the project partners had an equity share or knowledge in all facets of the project, from gas gathering to gas distribution, including shipping.
Furthermore, their technical staff had a detailed knowledge and familiarity with all the individual sections of the contractual chain. By the end of the 20th century, however, a short-term or "spot" market was starting to develop within the industry. In this market LNG vessels are hired on "spot" and "short-term" charters, with the charterer often having little or no knowledge of the history of such vessels. This has led to charterers and buyers and sellers of the cargoes drawing upon their oil industry experience and insisting on vetting these vessels prior to accepting them.
This has occasionally raised questions about aspects of the vessels' operation and maintenance that partners in the original long-term projects had previously understood and accepted. One area, unique to the LNG trade, in which this has occurred is the maximum, operationally acceptable, gas concentration to be found in the insulation spaces of the cargo containment system of the membrane-type liquefied natural gas carriers, particularly those of older design.
 Consider this scenario – a bomb threat on the bridge of your vessel. What would you do? Unfortunately, we now live in the time when terror almost routinely includes the use of explosives, threatening commerce, threatening property, and threatening human lives. In this program, we will look into the threat posed by explosives, and preventive measures to minimize that threat. Searching the ship effectively, confronting the explosive device, and the effective planning and response are the integral parts of this training.
Ships are extremely vulnerable to a saboteur using explosives. He poses a different security threat than a stowaway or hostage taker as he will most likely try to remain anonymous and undetected. The explosive threat can be directed against a ship of a particular nationality for political reasons, against a policies or property of a particular shipping company, to sabotage or compromise a sensitive cargo, or to protest a grievance or issue.
The availability of explosive materials makes them extremely attractive for terrorists. As we can see from horrifying headlines, it is often very difficult to stop a terrorist, especially when he is willing to commit suicide to fulfill the mission. Still, there are sensible precautions that crews can take to help prevent explosive attack. First, they have to lock and seal any potentially vulnerable compartments, and watch for any signs of tampering, be especially alert to unusual objects in unexpected places, not touch any suspicious objects or packages – report them immediately…
 The MSA Gas Detection Handbook aims to familiarize users with essential terminology and concepts related to gas detection while also functioning as a quick reference guide for information such as specific gas properties, exposure limits, and additional data. This Handbook includes a glossary of vital gas detection terms and abbreviations, along with a concise yet informative overview of fundamental principles in monitoring combustible and toxic gases.
It is abundant in reference data, encompassing physical properties and exposure limits pertinent to the most frequently monitored gases across industrial and various other settings. The author has provided a thorough professional comparison of the most commonly utilized gas detection technologies and has also incorporated a table that outlines the gas hazards typically associated with specific applications in major industries.
Furthermore, a summary of critical information regarding gas detection instrumentation approvals, including classifications for hazardous locations, has been included. MSA’s exclusive Sensor Placement Guide offers detailed insights into important considerations for determining the optimal placement of gas sensors.
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