Maritime Security
Article by Hannah Rosas
Maritime Security is a term which applies to a large variety of technology, devices, and operations both on deck and on shore. It can mean the simple measures used by boat owners and operators to protect individuals, vessels, and cargo from theft, sabotage, or piracy.
It can also refer to the large-scale initiatives of modern naval forces to prevent and arrest dangerous and illegal activities; such as hijacking, piracy, and human trafficking.
In the United States, these actions are largely undertaken by the USCG, which is appointed to protect all ports, vessels, and facilities. These duties were outlined and expanded by the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 in an effort to combat terrorism.
On international waters, maritime security regulations are addressed by the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, which was adopted in 2002 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).
Both of these agreements are concerned with vessel security. They state that vessel owners/operators must appoint security officers, formulate and implement security plans and measures according to the specifics of the vessel, and follow the dictates of global security levels.
The same regulations are in place for owners and operators of marine facilities, whether they are located offshore or on the waterfront.
On August 11, 2010, U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood identified 18 marine corridors, eight projects, and six initiatives for further development as part of “America’s Marine Highway Program.” In addition, the Maritime Administration made available m for which these projects will be able to compete through a Notice of Funding Availability.
Marine Highway Corridors: These all-water routes consist of 11 Corridors, four Connectors and three Crossings that can serve as extensions of the surface transportation system. These corridors identify routes where water transportation presents an opportunity to offer relief to landside corridors that suffer from traffic congestion, excessive air emissions or other environmental concerns and other challenges. Corridors are generally longer, multi-state routes whereas Connectors represent shorter routes that serve as feeders to the larger Corridors.
Crossings are short routes that transit harbors or waterways and offer alternatives to much longer or less convenient land routes between points. By designating these Marine Highway Corridors, Connectors and Crossings, Secretary LaHood is taking the first step to focus public and private efforts to use the waterways to relieve landside congestion and attain other benefits that waterborne transportation can offer in the form of reduced greenhouse gas emissions energy savings and increased system resiliency.
Maritime Security in Britain
Britain is an island and so security along the coastline is of tantamount importance in order to avoid any potentially serious threats. Much of the sea traffic around is due to trade, but there are also large quantities of passenger ships anchoring in ports every day, so it is vital to have a specific team of people to check over these ports in order to protect everyone who would be visiting one at any point, whether due to being onboard a ship or else just working there or living nearby.
In order to ensure that the country is safe there is something called maritime security, which is basically the umbrella term used for all of the safeguards put in place on Britain’s coastline, particularly the docks and harbours.
Maritime security is usually supplied by coast guards or private companies who hire guards in order to patrol the waters of the docks and check for any trouble. The boats can be sent out both to check out the general situation, or put in place any defensive devices if they are deemed necessary. Advanced technology is also used as a main way of providing security though, as it can monitor the ships that are coming in. The main types of machinery that can be of use in this situation are cameras and other devices which will provide images.
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Clear underwater cameras are attached to ships that dock in the harbour and can also be used on buildings in order to make sure that any potential incidents can be identified before they actually become a greater threat. Video records are also a good means of prosecuting anyone who tries to breach security. It is easy for these to miss any small packages or devices that could be used as a weapon though and so the most important piece of equipment maritime security uses is arguably the sonar technologies which allow the hulls of incoming ships to be scanned and 3D images built up, so anything unusual can be noted and investigated.
Maritime security in Britain use TRANSEC (transport security and contingencies) which is the organisation who issue threat warnings. TRANSEC issue level warnings constantly so the personnel are kept up to date. There are 3 levels of security threat and most of the time Britain is a level 1, which means everything is as it should be, but this is raised when necessary.
Once a maritime security team detect a threat there are methods of dealing with it and keeping the country safe. One of the best methods are nets which stop boats from entering further, these are specially developed so they can tell the precise location of a breach so teams can go out to sort out the developing situation.
There are other devices which may be used on site of an attack though, which will disable the perpetrator for a short time.
More often than not, the good monitoring technology and personnel out there in the harbours will prevent any threats before they reach a dangerous level, thus keeping Britain safe when it comes to maritime security.
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