ASIS INTERNATIONAL HOUSTON CHAPTER

MEETING MINUTES: June 29, 2005

The luncheon meeting was held at Renaissance Hotel. Chapter Chairman Darin Dillon CPP presided. 64 members and guests attended.

Opening prayer and Pledge: Lewis Eakins CPP

Committee Activities:

Treasurer: The report was reviewed and distributed.

Newsletter: The issue will be mailed early in July.

Certifications: Several more members passed the CPP exam prior to July 1, when the test structure is changing.

Social Activity: Thursday June 30^th at 17:00 at Goode’s Armadillo Palace. $10 admission includes beer, margaritas, and chips. Activities include pool, shuffle board and “chicken foot” dominoes!

Miscellaneous:

• Jerry Flores, a graduate student at UHD, is conducting a special survey on “span of control” since 9/11. He would appreciate input from any security manager of any size or type of facility to provide information on expanded controls and funding. A copy of the survey was distributed.
• Don Bruce, ITC Security Manager, extended an invitation to the membership to become involved in a newly formed group (Port-wide Strategic Advisory Council) that is soliciting federal funding for security improvements. PSAC has eleven voting members and representatives from 91 facilities. The government is leaning towards awarding grant money groups rather than individual facilities. They are also awarding based on risk/threat assessments. PSAC invited the head of the Homeland Security Grant Committee to Houston to explain the process, which contributed to successfully being awarded a $2 million grant for port-side improvements. Judge Eckles provided free consulting to help support a new, $18 million grant application for cameras, micro-radars and vessels. PSAC is also providing training opportunities. Contact Mr. Bruce for more information.
• Sam Houston State University is looking to place security interns.
• TRISC is hosting an IT Security conference.

Special presentation: Darin showed a power point presentation provided by the NWS that he saw at the Hurricane Conference held at the Pasadena Convention Center last month. It demonstrates the impact of storm surge on the area, with graphic computerized-generated images of what areas will go under water. If you would like a copy of this presentation, contact Darin.

Law Enforcement Recognition Award: HPD Officer David A. Kamyk

Officer Kamyk was a member of law enforcement in Virginia before coming to HPD. He is a Master Peace Officer and is on the Special Response Team. Officer Kamyk was accompanied by his supervisor Captain Mary Lentschke.

On August 22, 2004, Officer David Kamyk was on patrol when he saw a stranded motorist at the 10500 block of the East Loop. While he was offering assistance, he heard a faint cry for help from the wooded area by the freeway. He quickly called for back up for the safety of the stranded motorist. As soon as back up arrived he searched for the source of the cry.

When he entered the wooded area near the freeway, Officer Kamyk saw a vehicle overturned with the driver trapped inside. Then he saw a woman with severe head trauma, who had been a passenger in the overturned vehicle, on the ground near the vehicle. Officer Kamyk called for emergency medical personnel and moved the woman to a safe area. He next freed the driver of the overturned vehicle from his car. Paramedics arrived and transported both victims to the hospital.  Medical personnel later reported that Officer Kamyk's action were responsible for saving the woman's life. His alertness, initiative, and positive action in the midst of high traffic noises and distractions are consistent with the highest performance standards of the City of Houston Police Department.

Officer Kamyk was presented a plaque in appreciation of his service to the community.

Speaker: Ross Johnson CPP

Safety, Health, Environment and Security Supervisor

Atwood Oceanics

Topic: Maritime Piracy

Piracy is a maritime criminal act outside of U.S. jurisdiction. The Malacca Strait has one of the highest piracy rates in the world. The Strait stretches 500 miles and is 200 miles wide between Sumatra and the Malay Peninsula, linking the Indian Ocean with the South China Sea. 55,000 ships per year travel through the Strait; including 11 million barrels of oil per day constituting ¼ of all worldwide shipments. The narrowest point is only 1.5 miles across. China and Japan are dependent on the oil deliveries that come through the Strait.

In 2004, there were 325 attacks (down from 445 in 2003). However, thirty people were murdered which is an increase of nine over the previous year. Tugs and barges are the biggest targets because they are slow, but there are an increasing number of attacks on foreign vessels. One million dollars was paid in ransom in SE Asia. Forty sailors were kidnapped in twenty attacks resulting in four deaths.

West Africa, and particularly Nigeria, has the third highest number of incidents. This number may be higher because many of the incidents are labeled “labor disputes”. Contract laborers are not paid and do a work stoppage, holding the rig/vessel until they receive their money.

Somalia has a severe problem, as well as Bangladesh. The Littoral States are having difficulty coordinating anti-piracy efforts. Pirates often are disguised as local fishing vessels. They are often supported by organized crime. There was a two-month hiatus after the tsunami because of a high military presence, but the attacks are increasing again. There have been three attacks on Japanese vessels in the last few months. In March 2005, thirty-five pirates with machine guns and rocket propelled grenades took control of one vessel and kidnapped the Captain.

There are two solutions:

Passive, which is recommended by the International Maritime Organization, makes your vessel less attractive:

• Show your crew is awake
• Run fire hoses over the side (high pressured water keeps small boats from pulling alongside)
• Use searchlights
• All access to below deck is secure

Active: this has been in use more since November 2004:

• Hiring private, armed security for an escort who will intercept any approaching vessels
• Very unpopular with the Littoral States, who don’t like armed people in their waters
• Basis of legality: their right of innocence versus pre-eminent right of self-defense.
• It’s a very expensive alternative; a minimum of $75,000 for 4 days.

Planning and accurate threat assessment becomes increasingly important. Vulnerability assessments help in the reduction of loss.

Observation plan:

• Patrol day and night
• Bring binoculars
• Watch the fishing fleet
• Be prepared to challenge
• Watch the rear

Deterrence Measures:

• Visible measures such as searchlights and flowing water hoses
• Keeping well-lit
• Deck patrols
• Secured lower decks

Response:

• Communications
• Measures to repel boarders
• Lock down the rig with crew in the interior

Conclusion:

• Piracy is becoming increasingly dangerous
• There needs to be cooperative improvement between the military and law enforcement agencies, especially in the Littoral States.

Mr. Johnson was awarded a plaque in appreciation of his time and presentation. He was originally scheduled to speak in November and graciously stepped in at the last moment when our scheduled speaker was unable to attend.

Our next meeting is July 27. Our speaker is Paul E. Brown, President/CEO of CyberEvidence Inc. The topic is “Digital Forensics in a Global Enterprise Environment”.