About McRoberts Maritime Security

Meredith McRoberts

About Us

McRoberts Maritime Security provides expert delivery of security services in a regulated environment — we lead the maritime security industry in the area of regulatory compliant, integrated security solutions for port facilities, cruise lines, cargo ships and cargo terminals. Under one roof, McRoberts Maritime Security offers: integrated security consulting services, including Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) and International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) compliant security plans, assessments, drills, exercises and 3rd party security plan audits; maritime security services, including ship, passenger and cargo terminal facility security officers; maritime screening services, including passenger and cargo screening equipment support; customizable electronic security solutions including RFID-based access control and asset tracking systems, IP-based closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera systems, fire alarm and centralized monitoring; and training services, exportable to ships or facilities.

History of McRoberts and Port Security

William J. McRoberts

McRoberts Maritime Security is an operating unit of McRoberts Protective Agency, Inc. McRoberts, established in 1876, is the oldest security firm in America. During the same year that General George Custer was leading the 7th Cavalry to the Little Bighorn and Alexander Graham Bell was applying for a patent on his invention, Irish immigrant William J. McRoberts was employed as a coffee inspector on the Brooklyn N.Y., Piers.

In those days the New York waterfront was a bustling place, with tall clipper ships chock-a-block and swarms of workers hustling about the business of loading and unloading them. At the heart of the chaos was the longshore fraternity, a rough, poorly paid occupation that bred dishonesty. Not surprisingly, pilferage was rampant.

It was this tumultuous state of affairs that set the context of the opportunity for the young entrepreneur, William J. McRoberts. With his father-in-law as a partner, he founded his own private security company in his name, and began offering security services to cargo owners and carriers. He provided a cost-effective solution to cargo protection which was widely subscribed to from its inception.

Four generations of uninterrupted service later, the company founder's great granddaughter, Meredith McRoberts, presides over a full-service, fully-diversified, nation-wide security agency.

Today McRoberts is called on to provide security solutions for a full spectrum of business clients coast to coast. McRoberts Maritime Security leads the maritime security industry in providing regulatory compliant, integrated security solutions for port facilities, cruise lines, cargo ships and cargo terminals. McRoberts Maritime Security Officers can be found in ports around the country conducting security, cargo inspections, passenger terminal access control and an array of explosive detection and other tailored screening services. Additionally, McRoberts provides integrated consulting and training services for our personnel and clients, based upon the unique requirements of their operation and U.S./international law.