A PORTLAND firm is going global in its bid to educate on security and piracy.

Transeacure will teach close protection and anti-piracy measures to people in the United States.

Its directors Evan Moore and John Dodwell say it is an exciting time for the commercial security company, which was set up nearly four years ago.

The pair, who are both ex-forces, will begin running two courses in North Carolina in June, one offering close protection training and another offering maritime security training including teaching anti-piracy skills.

They selected the state because it is close to US military training facility Camp Lejeune, with most of Transeacure’s students ex-military.

Graham White, of UK Trade and Investment, visited the firm to offer advice on exporting its product to the US.

Transeacure has also teamed up with another Portland firm to fit anti-piracy barriers on vessels and has branched out into the publishing sector.

Mr Moore said: “The US training came about because we’ve already trained former US marines here on Portland.

“We’re going to look at it as a business opportunity and see where it goes.

“We’re really pleased with how things are going – it’s all moving in the right direction.

“The response we’ve had so far to the courses in this country has been fantastic but for a lot of the US people we’ve trained it’s the expense of coming over here that has stopped them.

“This is why we’ve decided to take it to the source.”

The company’s Portland Marina base has seen hundreds of people travelling from as far afield as New Zealand and South Africa to train in security.

It offers people close protection skills for jobs such as being a bodyguard.

Training is carried out across Dorset, recreating real life situations in outdoor environments.

The firm has come a long way since it was set up with £3,000 of Mr Moore and Mr Dodwell’s own money.

Demand for Transeacure’s services has increased so much that there are plans to take a further two people on as training providers.

Mr Dodwell said there is a lot of demand among Americans to work for a British firm.

“A lot of Americans want to work for British firms.

“Through us they can gain a Security Industry Authority (SIA) licence in close protection.

“It’s a qualification that is recognised around the world.

“It doesn’t have to be for working in Iraq or Afghanistan, there’s a lot of work out there for people with the right qualifications.”

The licence is for anyone working as a private security operative in the UK.

Transeacure has also published a Close Protection Planning Manual, a Remote Area Pocket Guide and is producing a medical pouch containing essential items for medical emergencies.

The books will be available to buy on Amazon.

Mr Moore said: “As a young company we have to diversify and can’t put all our eggs in one basket.

“We’re trying our best to meet the needs of people.

“We’ve taken the approach of moving slowly slowly. Our attitude is that if we can’t afford it then we don’t buy it.

“We’ve worked a lot of long hours to get to where we are, but we’re surprised with how well things have gone – we didn’t think we’d be this far down the line at this stage.”

 

TRANSEACURE, which was recently bolstered by the support of former war correspondent Martin Bell, now offers a Medicine in Remote Areas course (MIRA).

The course is for people working in hostile environments such as oil and gas to teach them how to deal with casualties in a remote environment.

Ex-MP Mr Bell, who met Mr Moore and Mr Dodwell once in Belize and again in Gibraltar, filmed a video recruitment segment for the firm and stays in touch to find out how things are progressing.

“Martin is in fine fettle and emails to ask how things are going,” Mr Moore said.

Preventing piracy at sea

THE company is working with fellow Portland firm Global Vessel Security to prevent piracy at sea.

Global Vessel Security, which has six staff members, is based at Southwell Business Park.

It sells barriers to shipping firms which prevent pirates from clambering onto vessels.

Transeacure provides people who can enter ‘hostile environments’ and fit the barriers on to vessels.

Natalie Duncan, of the marketing and sales department, said although piracy is on the decrease in some areas, piracy is increasing in West Africa.

She said: “We’ve been working with Transeacure helping them to promote each other’s products and helping to create awareness in the shipping world.

“It’s fantastic to work so closely with a local firm rather than being in competition. We’ve got good synergy with them.”

Global Vessel Security was set up in November 2013 and plans to take more staff members on as it expands.