US/SVG Coast Guard hold joint seminar on port security

Ports are key entry and exit points in any territory, so that training for port security personnel is important to minimize potential security risks.

The St Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard has collaborated with the US Coast Guard to conduct a three-day seminar on port facility security drills. The seminar commenced on Tuesday, February 27 at the National Emergency Management Organization (NEMO) conference room.

Lieutenant Commander and International Port Security liaison officer, Don Davis, said that his team (Lieutenant Commanders Charlotte Keosh and Dan Donovan) were in St Vincent and the Grenadines on invitation from the SVG Coast Guard. The aim of the seminar, according to Davis, was to implement key components of maritime security, to share best practices and to learn best practices from the SVG Coast Guard.

The International Port Security liaison officer gave very practical advice to participants from the SVG Coast Guard, the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Petro Caribe, Rubis, port managers, and other private security personnel.

In his presentation, Lieutenant Commander Dan Donovan said the seminar was an attempt to provide training on new equipment, develop or test new policies or procedures, and to practise and maintain current skills.

The seminar ended yesterday, March 1st, with participants receiving certificates of completion.