Security Teams

What is a Security Team in the Maritime Industry?

A security team in the maritime industry is a specialized group tasked with ensuring the safety and security of vessels, crews, and cargo in maritime environments. They work for a variety of organizations and are essential in the planning and execution of commercial shipments that traverse the world’s oceans.

What Role Do Security Teams Play in Maritime Security?

A security team is tasked with addressing a wide range of risks and challenges. Their role encompasses proactive measures, rapid responses, and ongoing monitoring to uphold security and compliance across global waters.

• Threat mitigation: assess potential risks, such as piracy, theft, or environmental hazards, and implement measures to mitigate these threats
• Crisis response: in emergencies, such as hijackings or collisions, teams act quickly to secure the vessel and crew while coordinating with other authorities
• Monitoring and surveillance: utilize technology, including radar and satellite data, to monitor vessels and maritime zones for suspicious activity
• Compliance and training: ensure adherence to international regulations like the ISPS Code from the International Maritime Organization and often train crews in best practices for safety and security

What Are Asset and Facility Security Teams, and How Do Their Roles Differ? 

An asset security team focuses on protecting specific resources, such as cargo shipments, vessels, or valuable goods. These teams ensure that assets are safeguarded throughout their journey by assessing risks such as piracy, theft, or environmental hazards. They create contingency plans for incidents like rerouted shipments or delays, ensuring the safety and integrity of the assets in transit. These teams often use advanced tools, including AI and satellite surveillance, to monitor shipping routes and potential threats​.

On the other hand, a facility security team concentrates on securing fixed locations like ports, warehouses, or shipping terminals. Their responsibilities include controlling access, conducting security screenings, and ensuring the perimeter and infrastructure are protected from unauthorized intrusions. By preventing incidents such as tampering, smuggling, or sabotage, facility security teams ensure smooth operations and compliance with international maritime security standards​.

Together, these teams are two vital components of a holistic security framework. While asset security teams mitigate risks in transit, facility security teams create a secure base for operations. This synergy ensures that both static and mobile aspects of maritime logistics are protected, addressing threats from multiple angles to maintain uninterrupted global trade​.

How Can Security Teams for Companies Shipping Cargo Ensure its Safety?

A security team for importers and/or exporters can leverage a platform, such as Windward’s Maritime AI™, to make informed decisions throughout the shipping process. By analyzing real-time and historical data, teams can take proactive steps to mitigate risks.

1. Select compliant shipping partners: use AI tools to generate insights into a ship’s operational history, helping security teams identify vessels that are compliant with international regulations and not associated with illicit activities.
2. Avoid high-risk areas: advanced predictive analytics enable teams to assess the threat level of various shipping routes, including piracy-prone waters or regions with heightened geopolitical tensions, so that they can choose safer pathways. 
3. Optimizing shipping routes: by analyzing real-time data on weather, traffic, and port congestion, security teams can recommend efficient and secure routes that minimize the risk of delays, or exposure to dangerous conditions.
4. Monitoring vessel behavior: Windward’s AI tools detect suspicious patterns such as loitering, evasive maneuvers, or dark activities (turning off AIS), empowering security teams to verify the integrity of chosen vessels and avoid those with questionable behavior.
5. Enhancing cargo visibility: continuous monitoring ensures end-to-end visibility of shipments, enabling early detection of potential disruptions and allowing for swift interventions when necessary.

Area Monitoring for Security Teams 

Monitoring high-risk areas, such as the Red Sea, and strategic maritime corridors, such as Bab el Mandeb, is critical for the safety of vessels, crew, and cargo. With real-time area monitoring, security teams can track the movement of vessels approaching dangerous zones and determine whether to reroute them to avoid potential threats. 

By setting up alerts for fleet movements in sensitive regions, a security team can be proactive, ensuring timely intervention. Area monitoring goes beyond fleet management and extends to corporate security, allowing organizations to keep a close watch on key facilities and detect any foreign vessels engaged in suspicious activities nearby. Alerts for these sensitive areas provide an additional layer of protection, helping teams respond swiftly to potential risks.

Key questions security teams often ask include:

• Are my vessels approaching a high-risk area and should I stop them?
• Who is approaching my facilities?
• Are there any foreign vessels engaged in suspicious activities around my facility?