Assessment of Maritime Security, Information and Communications Technology Application in Maritime
Chapter One
THE OBJECTIVE OF THE RESEARCH
Due to the economic prospects of the maritime sector of the country, there is great need for improvement on the operational efficiency and effectiveness of the sector. The operations carried out by shipping lines are complicated as much they are technical. And as we know, the shipping industry drives national economic development. Also for any shipping line to remain on top in the industry, it needs to keep abreast with the current trends, the market and technological factors that drive efficiency.
A lot of factors affect the effectiveness and efficiency of a shipping line’s operations, ranging from the port infrastructure, bunker management strategy, safety practices, government policies, ship replacement technique etc.
A critical investigation and analysis of these shipping operations will bring to the fore, more insight into the opportunities and challenges being faced by shipping lines in Nigeria, so as to help keep managers and students abreast of the survival techniques in the ever competitive shipping industry.
The business of maritime is a world encircling enterprise whose devotees must have a vast knowledge of matters great and small.
CHAPTER TWO
LITERATURE REVIEW
CONCEPTUAL REVIEW
ICT, SECURITY AND NATIONAL SECURITY
INFORMATION COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is defined as the technology that facilitates Communication, processing and transmisssion of information by electronic means (Adelekan, 2008).
Bamiro (2011) defined ICT as the use of electronic devices for sending-out, storing and receiving information. Information and communications technology is an umbrella that involves any communication application or device, encompassing; television, radio, satellite systems, cellular phones, computer hardware and software.
According to Aliyu (2007) information and communication technology is the use of computers and other electronic equipment for storing, analysing and sending out information that are necessary for the purpose of acquiring and sending out information, ideas, skills, knowledge, attitude, beliefs and feeling with the aim of bringing about particular changes in an individual.
Information is the fact about a person, group, event, situation, company, country (Adelekan,2008). Communication is the process of passing information from one person or group to one another. When the communication process makes use of devices and systems which transmit electronic or optical signals over long distances, it is more appropriately referred to as telecommunications. The methods and devices used in gathering information and communicating it are all included in the ICT.
The ICT process has changed social relationships between mankind for the better, so it is applicable to security. These definitions therefore encompass the full range of ICT from Radio, T.V to telephones, computers and the internet.
Heeks (1999) in his own contribution defined ICTs as electronic devices for computing, processing, storing and communicating information. He categorised these devices into; digital information (which comprises of computer hardware, Software and networks) and intermediate technology (which is based on analogue information waves like radio, T.V and telephones). Okpara (2004) sees ICT as the science of extracting, collating, storing, processing, utilizing and disseminating data. In simple term, such technology involves the use of data processor, facsimile machines, high speed modern printing machines, computer software, high resolution monitors and various storage facilities.
ICT TOOLS/MATERIALS
According to Arokoyo (2005) ICT materials /tools which have great potentials for use in security includes: radio, television, telephones, short message services (SMS), the web publishing and search engines, cameras, video, E-mail, computer, CD-ROM, and DVD.
In his own submission, Arokoyo (2005) observed that some ICT materials are often not included as part of the regular ICT but are nevertheless information and communication technologies in themselves, such as printed materials, photograph, Group meetings, seminar (workshop/conferences).
Experiences however have shown that for most developing countries, all sorts of traditional information and communication technologies such as radio, drama and video/TV used to educate people on the importance of security.
The digital camera with videos capabilities can be used to send information because ‘‘a picture is worth a thousand words and will enable even those constrained by literacy to communicate’’ (Arokoyo, 2005). Most radio and TV stations scored high in popularity and listenership because of their special interest and focus in broadcasting security issues to local audiences in local languages (Arokoyo, 2005). Access to radio especially is extensive compared with any other ICT with 4 in 10 persons living in the rural areas (Arokoyo, 2005)
SECURITY
Security is the degree of protection to safeguard a nation, union of nations; Person or persons against danger, damage, loss and crime (Oxford Dictionary, 20005).
Securities as a form of protection are structures and processes that provide or improve security as a condition.
The international country began to place emphasis on security matters in relation to Maritime development issues during the early 90’s. A consensus was reached on the need to broaden and deepen the concept of security, taking account of the political context at the end of the cold war (Harold, 1983). The concept of security was put forward by United Nations bodies and has placed human security firmly on the global political and development agenda. Insecurity is the threats and challenges to security which transcend national defence, law and order to encompass all political, economic and social issues that guarantee a life free from risk and fear. Security can be thought of as a ‘’public good’’, responding to the strategic need to support sustainable human development at the same time as promoting national, regional and global peace and stability. The human security approach has also made it clear that any attempt to address security related matters needs to be based on consultation and collaboration with different set of actors which frequently have different interests e.g civilian (Military, governmental/non-governmental, local/national/regional/international).
CHAPTER THREE
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
RESEARCH DESIGN
The cross-sectional survey research design, which involves the use of questionnaires and interviews were adopted in this study. Using simple random sampling technique a total of sixty (60) respondents were drawn from Apapa and Tincan Island Ports, Lagos, Nigeria.
This design was chosen because it provides appropriate methodology for assessment of security and ICT in the Maritime sector of the nation’s economy.
SAMPLE AND SAMPLING TECHNIQUES
The sample size of this study consists of fifty-two (52) respondents which were derived from the population size of (60) people using the statistical formular; (Yaro Yamani formular)
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
Gender distribution of respondents
CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION
SUMMARY
Maritime Security issues which involve intelligence gathering, data assessment, storage and retrieval can never be efficiently addressed in the modern world without the incorporation of Information Communication Technology.
The operations carried out in the Maritime sector are complicated as much they are technical. And as we know, the shipping industry drives national economic development. Also for any shipping line to remain on top in the industry, it needs to keep abreast with the current trends, the market and technological factors that drive efficiency.
A lot of factors that affect the effectiveness and efficiency of the Maritime sector includes but not only shipping line’s operations, ranging from the port infrastructure, bunker management strategy, safety practices, government policies, ship replacement technique etc.
A critical investigation and analysis of these shipping operations will bring to the fore, more insight into the opportunities and challenges being faced by shipping lines in Nigeria, so as to help keep managers and students abreast of the survival techniques in the ever competitive shipping industry.
The business of shipping is a world encircling enterprise whose devotees must have a vast knowledge of matters great and small.
ICT made up of Computer and similar devices has more than immense capacity of solving most of the tedious boredom problems facing accounting system we have in government ministries, government parastatals and private business institutions. They store information and make the data readily available when needed. They operate with high speed, they are accurate to the points of their activities, and they are reliable, automatic and versatile.
Nevertheless, the advent of ICT made up of Computer and similar devices has some problems. These problems are training of personnel and financial costs. They are very necessary before any bank could go into e-banking. Training of personnel is very necessary for the effective running and operations of any ICT equipment since human beings are the only thing that can operate a machine like computer effectively, therefore without an effective personnel management, the computer and other ICT related devices cannot be very efficient and productive.
RECOMMENDATIONS
The under listed are the recommendations which may help in the use of ICT for national security in the Maritime sector of the economy:
Due to the high ICT complexity and the use of specific technologies, there are particular challenges to ensure adequate security provisions in maritime systems. It would be beneficial for all stakeholders in the maritime sector to agree on a common strategy and development of good practices for the technology development and implementation of ICT systems in the maritime sector and ensuring “security by design” for all critical maritime ICT components.
- As current maritime regulations and policies consider only the physical aspects of security and safety, it is recommended that policy makers add cyber security aspects to them.
- I strongly recommend a holistic risk-based approach, which would require the assessment of existing cyber risks associated with the current ICT systems implementations relevant to the European maritime sector as well as the identification of all critical assets within this sector. For maritime economic operators and stakeholders, it is important to proactively apply sound cyber and information security risk management principles within their organisations and environments.
- With the maritime governance context being fragmented between different levels (i.e. international, European, national), the International Maritime Organisation together with the European Commission and the Member States should consider aligning and harmonizing international and European policies related to this sector, particularly on its cyber security aspects. Member States should clearly specify the roles and responsibilities that should be endorsed for addressing cyber security matters at those various levels.
- Proper coordination and cooperation between the relevant stakeholders should also be defined (e.g. CERTs and port authorities, shipping companies, etc.) through public-private sector interaction. We would recommend Member States to stimulate dialogue and public-private partnerships between the key stakeholders in the maritime sector (e.g. shipping companies, port authorities, etc.) and connected stakeholders (e.g. insurance companies / brokers).
- From a different perspective, better information exchange and statistics on cyber security may help insurers to improve their actuarial models, reduce own risks, and therefore offering better contractual insurance conditions to the involved maritime stakeholders. Information exchange platforms, as for instance the ones implemented by CPNI.NL, should be also considered and developed by Member States in order to foster and facilitate communication on cyber security for the relevant maritime actors.
CONCLUSION
Information technology has led to successful practices in Nigeria. The information technology has being able to provide information which is abundant. Though the use of ICT and internet are available in large numbers than ever before and they have positively impacted on security and made it more worthwhile and efficient.
In order to improve on the use of ICT in national security, the government should encourage the development of information technology in Nigeria. However, the recommendations proffered in this paper if strictly adhered to by the government might be a way of boosting the exposition of ICT as a tool to salvage the country from internal and external aggression. Nigeria should therefore, quicken the pace of development and embrace technology as a re-engineering strategy to bring about security revolution in Nigeria.
- Government should look into the improvement of higher education and economy.
- Government should pay more attention to the funding of ICT so that it can be of greater help as tools in monitoring security system.
- Our leaders should exhibit good moral character in their governance and eradicate corruption in the society. They should foster a democratic political order, buttressed by physical safety and economic growth, which helps to protect and empower people.
- Power sector should be adequately funded so that the supply of power will be useful for the operation of ICT so that it will be easier for the security stakeholders to perform their civic duties.
- The people saddled with the responsibilities of ICT usage should be sent to conferences, workshops and seminars when the need arises to update their knowledge about the current issues on ICT.
- Government should protect and empower individuals and communities in order to build a protective infrastructure against critical pervasive threats e.g. police systems, environmental regulations, health care network , education system, safety nets (e.g. food/cash for work, social protection), vaccination programmes etc.
- Government should promote human security culture, framework and raise awareness on human security issues in our society; disseminate information on existing initiatives and networks to foster a more integrated approach.
- Government should curb arms trade within the country and make sure that weapons are properly destroyed and not recycled to serve in other conflict settings.
- Fundamental human rights must be respected, protect minorities and fight against ethnic discrimination.
- Transition governments should be supported so as to prepare free and fair elections, promote a culture of open, tolerant and pluralistic society that accepts cultural diversity.
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