Maritime and Ports

Technical committee advises against TWIC encryption
National Maritime Security Advisory Committee says encryption would lead to higher costs, increased processing times, and roll-out delays, with little added security value; unencrypted fingerprint template offered as alternative
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Navy PLUSNet system to revolutionize underwater warfare
Networked UUVs will operate independently and adjust to ocean currents; system relies on a series of surface and underwater sensors, as well various gliders
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Universal Guardian teams up with CIBER
Companies sign a deal intended to conquer the global shipping and tracking market; agreement follows Universal’s recent purchase of MeiDa Information Technology; risk analysis for asset protection and anti-counterfeiting investigation among other improved capabilities
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Fast Track announces improved amphibious vehicle
Unlike other such machines, Fast Track’s uses only a single method of propulsion regardless of environments; tracks pull the vehicle along at 39 mph on water and 55 mph on land
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Illinois scientists use sensors to mimic fish navigation system
Micro-fabricated flow sensors detect the hydrodynamic wake formed by the craft’s propeller; applications in the UUV and submarine markets; system supplements sonar
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CommerceGuard deployed to Port of Portland
Installation is first on the west coast; success follows introduction of version 3.0 of this popular container security system and sale of minorty share to Samsung
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Industry heavyweights come out for NAIS briefing
Nationwide Automatic Identification System contract may eventually be worth as much as $165 million, but executives suspect that the project will lead into work on the Command 2010 project; Boeing, L-3, SAIC, and others attend a briefing
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Senate to clash with House over container 100% inspection provision
The House voted to mandate 100% inspection of U.S.-bound frieght containers; a Senate panel agrees with the Bush administration that the measure would be too costly
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Navy to deploy dolphins and sea lions to Washington naval base
Puget Sound gets ready to accept a flotilla of marine mammals; dolphins use sonar to swiftly locate maritime intruders; versitile sea lions capture them with a rope; military hopes to eventually replace them with machines
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Boeing wins $11 million UUV refurbishment and testing contract
Industry heavyweight will give the AN/BLQ-11 Long-term Mine Reconnaissance System a thorough going-over; system capable of twelve hours of autonomous reconnaissance before docking itself through the torpedo tube; testing to begin at Puget Sound and Bahamas
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Deepwater under continued fire
Henry Waxman charges Coast Guard with misleading DHS auditors and vows to get to the bottom of it; an independent DoD assessment finds the Deepwater project in trouble and wonders in Lockheed and Northrop should be stripped of their favored position; opportunities beckon for others
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Industry criticizes DHS for short-chaning port security
Maritime- and port-related industries criticize DHS for continuing to give a disproportionately large slice of federal security funding to aviation security, while being unreasonably frugal when it comes to port security
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India announces coast guard expansion plan
Country will buy fifteen new ships and twenty-three more aircraft, including UAVs; coast guard looks for deep water capabilities capable of assisting with coastal counter-terror missions
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GE and partners release upgraded version of container safety product
While Congress debates the 100 percent insepction of U.S.-bound cargo containers, GE and its global partners are offering Version 3.0 of their CommerceGuard’s container security system
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UPDATE: National Security Cutter marred by fatigue cracks
DHS says Coast Guard failed properly to oversee the $24 billion project; Deepwater program comes under increasing scrutiny; costs double while sea life decreases 20 percent; safety issues observed three years ago
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