How risky is our business?

by Kathryn SemcowJanuary 1st, 2009 | Editorial, Issue 14 January 2009

Watch your back

Are you feeling paranoid these days? I am. I was in the Taj, Oberoi in Mumbai only a month before it was attacked, and my boss was there when the gunmen entered the main doors. Thankfully, he made it out, but we here at DVV were all left a little shaky.

Just when we thought the shakiness left by September 11 was over, the threat of terrorism is making headlines again. Having an incident occur so close to home leaves me wondering if this threat is here to stay.

And turbulence in the economy won’t help. The tighter money becomes, the more people move to the margins, and look for violent methods to take out their frustrations. While not all desperation leads to mass terror attacks, it can still increase crime and security threats, such as money laundering, smuggling, theft and hijacking. If the Somali pirates were economically satisfied, after all, they would probably lose the need to take over ships.

Maybe these threats are just media hype. Maybe they are perceived risks, rather than real risks. The risks we worry about, however, can be far more dangerous to our industry than actual risks. Perceived risks mean more rules (C-TPAT anyone?) and security checks, which mean more bottlenecks. And let’s not even talk about the rise in insurance costs.

We will all be affected by these concerns. An example: A major shipping firm in Dubai sent an empty vessel from Karachi to Mumbai just before the terrorist attacks occurred. While the ship had no suspicious cargo, to outsiders it appeared as if it had transported the assailants into India. The Indian and American navies showed up to investigate, and only recently was the company able to clear its name.

Governments around the world are likely on alert for suspicious activity. While I am not accusing you of anything, I recommend that you make yourself aware of the security rules of any country you deal with, and follow them accordingly. The last thing you need is authorities knocking on your door. After all, should anything go wrong, we will be the first industry to take the blame. Not that I want you to be paranoid.

Happy New Year