Ship Operations Cooperative Program (SOCP) Elects 2012 Officers

The Conference Center at the Maritime Institute of Technology and Graduate Studies (CCMIT) Linthicum Heights, Maryland--SOCP Elects 2012 Officers and Holds Fall Meeting and Anti-Piracy Demonstration.

2012 Elections –November 1-3, 2011

Outgoing SOCP President Glen Paine announced the election of the 2012 President and Board members: Royce Engler, President; Susan Hayman, Vice President; and board members Mike Bohlman, Tom Bushy, Vince Corry and Phil Shullo.

At the fall meeting, delegates and ranking officers of MARAD and the Department of Transportation as well as senior representatives from federal and state government and commercial maritime industry participated in an in-depth discussion regarding the impact of piracy and terrorism on the Maritime industry. Key topics included:

• Ten Years After 911: What have we accomplished, what more needs to be done?
• Ant-Piracy and Terrorism, An International Perspective
• Hijacked! What next?

Anti-Piracy Demonstration

On November 1, 2011, SOCP held a joint Maritime Administration (MARAD) and SOCP anti-piracy training and technology demonstration on the M/V Cape Washington in Baltimore Harbor.

The anti-piracy event was attended by the MARAD Administrator, David Matsuda, and other senior federal government officials. Six anti-piracy vendors demonstrated and discussed their products and services. The onboard vessel meeting provided government officials an opportunity to observe and evaluate available technologies and services. They were also able to review training and technology demonstrations, which utilize counter-piracy tactics and non-lethal devices.

About SOCP
SOCP addresses and promotes commercial operations through the identification, development, and application of new methods, procedures, and technologies. SOCP’s overall objective is to improve the competitiveness, productivity, efficiency, safety, and environmental responsiveness of U.S. vessel operations. All U.S. based vessel operators and organizations that support vessel operations are eligible to participate in the program. With the support of the Maritime Administration (MARAD), industry, labor, and Government are working together to address common challenges and identify new solutions for improvements in ship operations.

For copies of the presentations or for more information about SOCP please go to www.socp.us or email them at [email protected]