Blackwater USA
Blackwater USA, now known as Academi, is a private military company (PMC) founded in 1997 by former Navy SEAL Erik Prince. The company's origin was centered around providing training and security services to government and private entities. Over time, Blackwater became one of the most well-known and controversial PMCs, largely due to its extensive contracts with the U.S. government, particularly during the Iraq War.
Key Points in its History:
Foundation and Early Years:
- Founding: Erik Prince founded the company in 1997 in North Carolina.
- Early Operations: Initially, Blackwater focused on training military and law enforcement personnel. The company built a sprawling training facility in Moyock, North Carolina.
Rise to Prominence:
- Expansion: Following the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, Blackwater expanded significantly, securing numerous contracts with the U.S. government.
- Iraq War: The company's profile grew through its involvement in the Iraq War, providing security services, including the protection of high-profile individuals and facilities.
Controversies:
- Reputation: Blackwater became a household name partly due to controversies surrounding its operations. Incidents involving their personnel sometimes resulted in civilian casualties, sparking widespread debate over the use of private contractors in conflict zones.
- 2007 Nisour Square Incident: One of the most notable controversies was the 2007 incident in Nisour Square, Baghdad, where Blackwater personnel were involved in a shooting that led to the death of 17 Iraqi civilians. This resulted in legal actions and increased scrutiny.
Rebranding and Changes:
- Name Changes: Due to negative publicity, Blackwater changed its name multiple times. In 2009, it became Xe Services, and in 2011, it rebranded again to Academi.
- Ownership Changes: In 2010, Erik Prince sold the company and it underwent restructuring.
Current Status:
- Academi: Under its new name, Academi, the company continues to provide security and training services, though it operates with a lower public profile compared to its Blackwater days.
Services Provided:
- Security Services: High-risk environment security, protective services, and risk assessment.
- Training: Training for military, law enforcement, and security personnel in areas like firearms, tactical operations, and counterterrorism.
- Logistics and Support: Support services for missions including transportation, supply chain logistics, and operational support.
Impact and Legacy:
Blackwater's operations, especially during the Iraq War, highlighted issues concerning the regulation and oversight of private military companies. Its activities led to greater scrutiny and regulation of PMCs globally. Despite its rebranding efforts, the legacy of Blackwater USA remains a significant reference point in discussions about the privatization of military and security functions.
- 252-435-0059
- www.blackwaterusa.com
- 252-435-6388
Products
Targets & Securty
Moyock USA
PO Box 1029
Moyock NC 27958
USA
Moyock NC 27958
USA
Maritime News
Container Shippers Mitigating Green Transition Risks with Dual-Fuel Vessel Orders
Container shipping companies like Maersk, CMA CGM and COSCO have ordered hundreds of new vessels in recent years meant to help their industry slash greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to meet rising demand from customers and regulators around the globe.Their order books, however, reflect uncertainty over which of a wide array of so-called green fuels will become the standard in the decades to come, and whether supplies will be cheap and abundant enough to keep their fleets in motion.Decarbonizing shipping is important to global efforts to fight climate change because it accounts for about 3% of global greenhouse gases, but accomplishing it will be difficult and costly
Misunderstanding General Average Concepts Could Harm Offshore Operators
At a recent seminar in London organized by the International Underwriting Association of London (IUA) and the Association of Average Adjusters (AAA), participants heard how ignoring or not fully understanding the concept of General Average (GA) when concluding charter-party contracts for offshore services could cause problems in the event of an incident or accident.Michiel Starmans, a Fellow of the AAA and Director Legal Department of the Spliethoff Group and Alf Inge Johannessen, an Associate of the AAA and Senior Claims Manager at DOF
Australia and India Talk Maritime, Renewables at G20
Australia will partner with India to boost investment in renewable energy, including solar manufacturing, battery and mineral processing, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a meeting with his Indian counterpart on the G20 sidelines.Australia and India will also look to enhance defense and maritime security cooperation, Albanese said in a meeting with India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Rio de Janeiro on Tuesday.The two countries, along with the United States and Japan, are members of the Quad, which has sought to balance China's rising military and economic clout in the Indo Pacific region.
Sabotage: Two Undersea Cables Cut in Baltic Sea
Two undersea fibre-optic communications cables in the Baltic Sea, including one linking Finland and Germany, were severed, raising suspicions of sabotage by bad actors, countries and companies involved said on Monday.The episode recalled other incidents in the same waterway that authorities have probed as potentially malicious including damage to a gas pipeline and undersea cables last year and the 2022 explosions of the Nord Sea gas pipelines.The 1,200-kilometre (745-mile) cable connecting Helsinki to the German port of Rostock stopped working around 0200 GMT on Monday, Finnish state-controlled cyber security and telecoms company Cinia said.
Global Offshore Wind Stumbles to the End of '24
Soaring costs, project delays and limited investment put targets out of reachAfter a year of canceled projects, broken turbines, and abandoned lease sales, the global offshore wind industry no longer has much chance to hit the lofty targets set by governments in the U.S., Europe and elsewhere ... with the exception of China.Reuters spoke to 12 offshore wind companies, industry researchers, trade associations, and government officials in six countries to come up with a global picture of the state of the industry and its outlook, and found soaring costs, project delays and limited supply chain investment were hobbling installations.