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Port and maritime security matters continue to dominate the agenda list of marine companies and orga- nizations. While an unprecedented inter- national effort to thwart terrorist attacks has seemingly had some positive impact, the heightened awareness has exposed fis- sures in the system. At a meeting of the IMO Maritime Safe- ty Committee's Intersessional Working Group on Maritime Secu- rity (ISWG), the group fast-forwarded a number of topical mat- ters, including an agreement to discuss the accelerations of the implementation schedule for the mandatory fitting of Automatic Identification Systems for all ships of 500 gross tonnage and above, on international voyages. While such talk undoubtedly makes the hearts of marine electronics manufacturers swoon, it gives vessel owners, and operators — which must ultimately foot the bill and pass along the cost — cause for pause. Congruent with this security theme, a collection of leaders from the military, the U.S. Senate and industry met in Washing- ton, D.C. on February 26 to lobby for an additional $2.9 billion in the FY 03 budget for the purpose of building more new Navy ships. The president's proposal, which requests $6.1 billion for the procurement of five new Navy vessels, is a slap in the face of estimates which say between 10 to 12 new ships per year are needed to maintain a healthy fleet. For too long the Navy has been told "next year we'll make it up," but leaders such as Northrop Grumman's Phil Dur; Senators Thad Cochran, (R- Miss.), and Jack Reed, (D-R.I.); and Admiral Robert Natter are determined to make next year this year. Security and Navy aside, the commercial marine business remains a viable venture, though consolidation and a sour econo- my have colluded to cloud that reality. Technology remains the driver of the marine market, as highlighted in this month's Tanker Technology section. Spain's IZAR very proudly launched its first LNG ship in more than three decades — the Inigo Tapias — a marker that surely serves as a signal supporting IZAR manage- ment's contention that this is the "decade of gas." With five such ships on order and four more slots to fill, IZAR is making a run in a market niche that has slid to yards in the Far East. www.marinelink.com MARITIME REPORTER AND ENGINEERING NEWS NEW YORK 118 E. 25th St., New York, NY 10010 Tel: (212) 477-6700; Fox: (212) 254-6271 3-moil: mren@marinelink.com • Internet: www.marinelink.com FLORIDA 215 NW 3rd St., Boynton Beach, FL 33435 EDITORIAL Managing Editor Regina P. Ciardiello • ciardiello@marinelink.com Assistant Editor Jennifer Rabulan • rabulan@marinelink.com Technical Editor David Tinsley Editorial Consultant James R. McCaul, president, International Maritime Associates MARKETING Vice President of Marketing Susan Cosme • cosme@marinelink.com Marketing Manager Richard Grable • grable@marinelink.com Tel: (561) 732-1659; Fax: (561) 732-6984 ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Gregory R. Trauthwein • trauthwein@marinelink.com PRODUCTION Production Manager Michael Lowe • lowe@marinelink.com Asst. Production Manager Oksana Martemy • martemy@marinelink.com CIRCULATION Grculation Manager Dale L. Barnett • barnett@marinelink.com ADVERTISING SALES Vice President of Sales Lucia M. Annunziata • annunziata@marinelink.com National Sales Manager Rob Howard • howard@marinelink.com Tel: 941-949-5351; Fax: 941-949-5358 Chief Financial Officer Al Adinolfi North American Sales Manager Brett W. Keil • bkeil@marinelink.com Tel: (561) 732-1185; Fax: (561) 732-6984 Director, New Business Development Jean Vertucci • vertucci@marinelink.com Electronic Product Sales • @marinelink.com Tel: (561) 732-4368; Fax: (208) 575-3217 Assistant to the Vice President of Sales Tina Angelino • angelino@marinelink.com Accounting Manager Angelica Rivera • arivera@marinelink.com Classified Sales Tel: (212) 477-6700 PUBLISHER John E. 0'Malley John C. 0'Malley • jomalley@marinelink.com ®(fe[? MoftMS DDGffeMf] & taflGWOG totafe Electronic Products & Services www.maritimetoday.com Customized e-mail news service deliv- ered twice a day, including the latest contracts, casualties, people & compa- ny reports. www.maritimejobs.com m ^MTz— W, mar'ne industry's recruiting & £•" employment resource. .is. MarineNews Published 18 times per year, MarineNews is the leading provider of information and analysis for the North Ameri- can inland/offshore shallow draft market. trauthwein @ marinelink.com www.marinelink.com The Internet's largest marine website, recording more than 270,000 "hits" per month. Daily news, data & statis- tics, industry directories. Looking for service reliability, we deliver it. ABB Turbochargers AM New York/NJ, Miami, Houston, Seattle/Tacoma, Los Angeles - email: turbochargers@us.abb.com 6 Circle 200 on Reader Service Card or visit www.maritimereporterinfo.com Maritime Reporter/Engineering News
