Since September 11, the U.S. government has been developing a number of initiatives to safeguard U.S. seaports, including:
• Both short- and long-range vessel detection and monitoring capabilities;
• Initiatives and agreements to improve advance notices of arrival, vessel movement information, supply-chain security practices, and manifest and entry information for cargo;
• International arrangements that promote visibility into the maritime supply chain; • Sensor technology, intelligence and information processing tools to monitor the maritime;
• International coalitions to share maritime situational awareness on a timely basis; • Enhanced global maritime intelligence and coordination;
• Shared situational awareness to disseminate information to users at all levels;
• Automated tools to improve data fusion, analysis, and management in order to improve tracking and detection of aberrant patterns of activity; and
• Research in information processing to increase threat detection capabilities. These federal initiatives have been implemented to varying degrees and have increased security in varying ways in seaports. Local seaports also have implemented additional security enhancements.
First, in the area of area of physical security there are a number of ways to secure the outer and inner perimeters of a port. Our team observed a number of promising practices in the area of physical security, including perimeter security; fencing, walls and other barricades; security towers and platforms; and lighting. We also learned of the need for minimum standards in the area of physical infrastructure, and the problem of restricting waterside access to port facilities.
While there is a need for many high-tech security devices, there is still a need for “low-tech” measures such as fencing. While regular fences can be easily circumvented, a variety of security enhancements can be added to make it more difficult to break through or bypass a fence. Concrete anti-vehicle barricades, caltrops, and spike-strips can also be used with fences if there is a need to stop a motor vehicle. These low-cost, high-value protective features can be used in a myriad of ways to protect sensitive elements in a port.
We also observed innovations in seaborne security/ floating booms and barriers in Boston and Port Everglades. In Boston, floating barriers are being used around cruise ships and LNG tankers when they are in port. In Port Everglades, portable floating booms are used around cruise ships when they are docked in the port to protect against seaborne attacks. Lighting of docks, container traffic, and storage areas is also an important security measure. Some ports make use of mobile light towers and solar-powered emergency street lights. Another simple strategy used by most of the ports we visited was door-to-door stacking of empty shipping containers. While not a foolproof system, stacking containers door-to-door is a very simple method of limiting terrorists, stowaways, thieves or smugglers with contraband from gaining entry into shipping containers.
Thoughts on this?
• Both short- and long-range vessel detection and monitoring capabilities;
• Initiatives and agreements to improve advance notices of arrival, vessel movement information, supply-chain security practices, and manifest and entry information for cargo;
• International arrangements that promote visibility into the maritime supply chain; • Sensor technology, intelligence and information processing tools to monitor the maritime;
• International coalitions to share maritime situational awareness on a timely basis; • Enhanced global maritime intelligence and coordination;
• Shared situational awareness to disseminate information to users at all levels;
• Automated tools to improve data fusion, analysis, and management in order to improve tracking and detection of aberrant patterns of activity; and
• Research in information processing to increase threat detection capabilities. These federal initiatives have been implemented to varying degrees and have increased security in varying ways in seaports. Local seaports also have implemented additional security enhancements.
First, in the area of area of physical security there are a number of ways to secure the outer and inner perimeters of a port. Our team observed a number of promising practices in the area of physical security, including perimeter security; fencing, walls and other barricades; security towers and platforms; and lighting. We also learned of the need for minimum standards in the area of physical infrastructure, and the problem of restricting waterside access to port facilities.
While there is a need for many high-tech security devices, there is still a need for “low-tech” measures such as fencing. While regular fences can be easily circumvented, a variety of security enhancements can be added to make it more difficult to break through or bypass a fence. Concrete anti-vehicle barricades, caltrops, and spike-strips can also be used with fences if there is a need to stop a motor vehicle. These low-cost, high-value protective features can be used in a myriad of ways to protect sensitive elements in a port.
We also observed innovations in seaborne security/ floating booms and barriers in Boston and Port Everglades. In Boston, floating barriers are being used around cruise ships and LNG tankers when they are in port. In Port Everglades, portable floating booms are used around cruise ships when they are docked in the port to protect against seaborne attacks. Lighting of docks, container traffic, and storage areas is also an important security measure. Some ports make use of mobile light towers and solar-powered emergency street lights. Another simple strategy used by most of the ports we visited was door-to-door stacking of empty shipping containers. While not a foolproof system, stacking containers door-to-door is a very simple method of limiting terrorists, stowaways, thieves or smugglers with contraband from gaining entry into shipping containers.
Thoughts on this?
