Press Release

Port Debate Heightens Calls for More U.S. Crews on Ships as Security Measure
As Dubai Review Begins, Lack of U.S. Crews on Ships with Sensitive Cargoes, Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), Draws National Attention in White Paper, Upcoming Webcast on Maritime TV (www.MaritimeTV.com), March 16, 2006

CHANTILLY, VA--(MARKET WIRE)--Mar 10, 2006 -- In response to maritime security concerns raised during the recent Dubai Port World controversy, Maritime TV (www.MaritimeTV.com), a TV Worldwide Internet TV channel dedicated to maritime industry issues and events, has scheduled an interactive, national webcast highlighting a strategy to deploy more U.S crews on ships carrying sensitive cargo, including Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), in U.S. ports. The webcast is being produced after a white paper on this issue, recently released by industry professionals and the Maritime TV editorial staff, received an overwhelming response and generated national attention. Feedback to Maritime TV on this issue during the recent port debate indicated that there is a deepening public, industry and government anxiety about the threat to homeland security posed by foreign-crewed ships with sensitive cargoes in U.S. ports and a need to quickly implement a comprehensive strategy to address the concern.

The free 90-minute webcast will feature a panel of industry representatives and maritime experts live in Maritime TV's Washington D.C.-area studios and on-line. The webcast will begin at 1 PM ET on Thursday, March 16th at www.MaritimeTV.com, and will be archived for later viewing on the channel for a full year. DVD and CD-ROM video copies will also be made available to interested parties, on-line at Maritime TV along with the most recent version of the white paper on this issue.

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Port and maritime security have been a top concern among security officials in Washington for some time. "In the attacks of September 11, clearly we saw that the airplane became the bomb," stated Ed Kittel, Chief of the Explosives Division for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) in a 2004 Maritime TV video news report. "It would not take much of a leap to show that a ship could become the bomb, particularly a ship with volatile cargo."

These "boat bombs," as some have called them, such as Liquid Petroleum Gas or LPG tankers, have many maritime experts worried.

"In parlance of campaign messages, the feedback we've received from the industry during the port security debate was that 'It's the ships, stupid...and we've got to let the public know,' and that's a big driver behind the webcast," remarked Dave Gardy, CEO of the TV Worldwide network. "This controversial issue is now being looked at in a whole new light of homeland security and defense vulnerability which many say may lead to a renewed legislative effort to rebuild a presence for the U.S. merchant marine officers and crew."

Maritime TV news reports have highlighted government findings that foreign flag ships and crews dominate U.S. trade routes. The reports have found that as the U.S. pursues its war on terror with heavy emphasis on homeland security and protection of its ports and intermodal infrastructure, the almost complete collapse of a U.S. flag merchant shipping fleet since World War II and the overwhelming presence of foreign flag ships and crews in U.S. ports present a clear and present threat, especially where sensitive cargoes such as LNG and LPG are concerned.

"Thousands of foreign-controlled ships manned by many tens of thousands of foreign personnel visit our many ports and navigable waterways -- many of which are registered under "flags of convenience" with owners, operators, and multinational crews that have no national relationship to the country where the ship is registered," stated Captain Dan Fuller, U.S. Merchant Marine Shipmaster and respected maritime consultant. "More American ships carrying a larger proportion of our foreign trade give the U.S. greater control over our trade, as well as significantly increased security for our ports, waterways, and adjacent communities."

Even more alarming is that with only a skeletal U.S. flag fleet left, the U.S. military has been forced to ship sensitive mission-essential cargo aboard foreign-flagged vessels with foreign crews from countries like the Philippines and Indonesia where there is support for Al-Quaeda and other terrorist organizations. The GAO has concluded, "There may be an increased risk of the equipment being tampered with, seized or destroyed by individuals or groups whose interests run counter to those of the United States, and an increased chance that those weapons or equipment might be used against military or civilian targets."

Many in the industry feel this trend must be reversed. "Laws, regulations, and tax policies must be thoroughly addressed and adjusted as practical and necessary to allow American citizen mariners and American ship owners and operators to effectively compete against foreign counterparts who operate under much lighter legal and tax burdens," commented Captain Fuller.

About TV Worldwide

As a leading global Internet TV network and streaming media company, TV Worldwide (www.tvworldwide.com) is developing a network of video channels that is an affiliation of community-based Internet television stations such as Maritime TV, each underwritten by a strategic partner, "aimcasting(SM)" to targeted demographic audiences worldwide. TVWorldwide.com works with strategic partners to develop the latest in live and archived state-of-the art video streaming content applications. TVWorldwide.com was recently named one of the streaming video industry's "Hottest Streaming Companies" by Streaming Magazine, www.streamingmagazine.com, and CEO Dave Gardy was honored by the magazine as one of the 50 Most Influential People in Streaming Media. Mr. Gardy also serves as President of the International Webcasting Association.

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Pat Cleveland
TV Worldwide.com
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