Non-Compliant Boardings Spotlighted At San Diego Maritime Interdiction Conference
The Maritime Interdiction Conference is planned for late August in sunny San Diego, and looking at the agenda I see a wide range of topics, from intercepting vessels far from our coast to on shore port security, are going to be discussed in depth. I would be especially interested in hearing how maritime drug related arrests and seizures have impacted DEA investigations across the globe. Captain Aaron Davenport’s (USCG) recounting of an at sea SPSS seizure will also be a highlight.
The keynote address, titled Maritime Interdiction Operations In A Non-Permissive Environment and delivered by Rear Admiral Castillo (USCG) will, if it follows a similar keynote from the recent conference of NATO’s Maritime Interdiction Operational Training Center, be a primer on non-compliant and hostile ship boardings. NATO’s version focused on maritime interdiction operations related to piracy and WMD proliferation, covering the entire progression of a non-compliant boarding from the legal framework to intelligence and boarding party tactics. Rear Admiral Castillo’s presentation will more likely focus on the threat of Mexican and Colombian maritime drug and human trafficking ventures and the potential for terrorist activity involving infiltration and attack using small boats or commercial shipping. Should be a lot of great information and a pretty good time.
Unmanned aerial vehicle technology and acquisition initiatives will be spotlighted at an upcoming maritime interdiction conference in San Diego.
“The U.S. military and Department of Homeland Security must keep up with illegal smugglers who are becoming savvier and smarter,” said Kristine Ortiz-Cortes, The Institute for Defense and Government Advancement’s director for the conference. “The Maritime Interdiction Summit will help keep all maritime ports of entry impermeable by bringing together the best minds in the industry and military to discuss advances in interdiction strategy and technology.”
IDGA said the summit will be Aug. 23-25. Main speakers are Rear Adm. Joseph Castillo, commander, 11th Coast Guard District, U.S. Coast Guard; Capt. Aaron Davenport, CGC Jarvis; Cmdr. Jason Collins, Operations Directorate, Sector Los Angeles, U.S. Coast Guard; Maj. Thomas “Brain” Heffern, UAS Requirements, U.S. Marine Corps; and James Dinkins, director, Office of Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“The summit will address solutions to the wide spectrum of problems that plague maritime borders during a time of radical extremism and increasing international conflict,” the organization said.
Specific themes include surveillance technologies, counter-narcotic operations, curtailing illegal immigration, preventing terrorist attacks, intelligence, biometrics and identity management.
