IAMU News No.12, June 2006

Annual General Assembly 2006 and Maritime Security Seminar

Reports by the IAMU Secretary's Office

The 6th IAMU Annual General Assembly (AGA6) was held on 24-26 October, 2005 at World Maritime University in Malmö, Sweden with the theme "Maritime Security and MET". More than 120 delegates including 11 students from 33 member institutions attended the conference. About 50 presentations were made in sessions as the outcome of research activities during the year.

One of the most remarkable achievements of the year was the final report for Project System 2004 by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Donna Nincic of The California Maritime University (CMA), titled "Maritime Terrorism: Developing Case Studies for Teaching and Analysis" which is the very first outcome of its kind providing students and marine professionals with an understanding of maritime terrorism.

As a "synergy" of AGA and Project System, and also as a dissemination of the project outcome, Dr. Bill Eisenhardt, President of CMA visited Tokyo with Dr. Nincic and Capt. Bruce Clark, Director, CMA Training Center, and gave presentations at the "Seminar on Maritime Security and MET" on 2nd March 2005. Among the speakers were: Mr. Frank Wall, previously Chairman of the IMO’s Security Working Group; LCDR Christopher J. Robinson, US Coast Guard Far East; Capt. Susumu Nakamura, International Law Office, Staff College Research Department of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force; and Capt. Shinichi Oi, Principal Researcher of the M.O. Marine Consulting, Ltd.

The seminar provided the latest discussion on world maritime security and raised the audience’s awareness on the importance of the issue. It was a great success, attracting more than 100 experts in the maritime community in Japan, including shipping companies, administration, and maritime high schools.

The Seminar was co-organized by the Ocean Policy Research Foundation (OPRF) and IAMU, and Mr. Masahiro Akiyama, Chair of OPRF. Dr. Karl Laubstein, President of WMU and then IAMU Chair, made opening remarks.

The conference proceedings were made available at cost for those who could not attend the seminar due to the capacity limitations of the conference venue. Dr. Nincic and Capt. Clark then visited two IAMU member institutions in Japan, namely Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology Faculty of Marine Technology, and Kobe University Faculty of Maritime Sciences, and made lectures to students.

Expenses for the seminar were all covered by special funds provided by the Ocean Policy Research Foundation and registration fees from participants.