Maritime and Ports

First six months of 2009 see double the number of pirates' attacks
The total number of pirates’ attacks rose to 240 in the first six months of 2009 from 114 incidents in the same period a year ago
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Autonomous submarine to patrol shallow waters
BAE show latest in its Talisman line — an autonomous underwater vehicle specializing in securing shallow waters near or inside ports, coastal waters, and rivers
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CBP tests new marine interceptor
CBP Air and Marine currently operates a fleet of specialized, high-speed interceptor vessels that are approaching the end of their service life; the agency is testing a new interceptor in order to determine CBP’s next-generation fleet
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DHS uses B-52 to monitor sea lanes
DHS is using a B-52 to check out suspicious merchant ships approaching North America, often when the ships are still about 2,000 kilometers from the coast
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Northrop wins U.S. Navy ray gun contract
Northrop Grumman is the maker of the first electric solid-state battle-strength ray gun module; the company is awarded $98 million to provide a demonstrator Maritime Laser system capable of being fitted to U.S. warships of frigate size and up
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Napolitano tours Project Seahawk
Project SeaHawk was established by Congress in 2003 as a collaborative initiative designed to bring multiple agencies together to protect Port Charleston in South Carolina — and show-case the ability of different agencies to share information and coordinate maritime response efforts
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New underwater laser robot network to protect U.S. coast line
Co-operating underwater robots rapidly identify and communicate potential threats in murky waters
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Drug smuggling becomes more sophisticated, II
Drug smugglers now use semi-submersibles which are 60 foot long and 12 feet wide fiberglass boats powered by a diesel engine, with a very low freeboard and a small “conning tower” providing the crew (usually of four) and engine with fresh air, and permitting the crew to navigate the boat
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Drug smuggling becomes more sophisticated, I
Colombian drug kingpins still use old smuggling methods to bring drugs into the United States — aircraft, hidden in ship or aircraft cargo— but small submersibles can move the most cocaine at once, with the lowest risk; U.S. Navy, Coast Guard have detected more than 120 of these subs off the coast between Mexico and Colombia
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Robotic ferret to secure cargo containers
The U.S. maritime system consists of more than 300 seaports and more than 3,700 cargo and passenger terminals; more than 6 million cargo containers enter U.S. seaports annually; new robotic ferret will help detect radioactive materials, explosives, drugs, and illegal immigrants smuggled inside such containers
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Congress requires competition for for aviation security services
Despite heavy lobbying by airport managers, Congress insists that TSA must hold open and full competition for security background screening services for aviation workers
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France opens naval base in the Gulf
President Nicolas Sarkozy today opens the first French military base in the Gulf; France is eying multi-billion dollar deals for nuclear reactors and sophisticated weapons for countries in the region
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Shipping executive calls for armed federal security on U.S. ships
Liberty Maritime Corp.’s Philip Shapiro calls for Congress to remove the legal barriers to arming ships so that they may provide their own security
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U.S. ships will be required to post guards when sailing near Somalia
The U.S. Coast Guard will require U.S.-flagged ships sailing around the Horn of Africa to post guards and ship owners to submit anti-piracy security plans for approval
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Boat made from carbon nanotube composite fibers for coastal security
The administration’s 2010 budget cuts the U.S. Coast Guard’s budget, so it is good that a Washington state-based company is building a boat made entirely with carbon nanotube enhanced pre-impregnated composite fibers; the 16 meter boat will weigh less than 3,630 kg, fully equipped; this is approximately 75 percent less than fiberglass boats of the same size, and 33 percent less than conventional carbon fiber boats
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