USSI showcases port security system
To help secure U.S. ports and waterways which provide a vital link to the global supply chain, US Seismic Systems Inc. (USSI) has developed an underwater fiber-optic sonar system that detects small craft entering protected areas
To help secure U.S. ports and waterways which provide a vital link to the global supply chain, US Seismic Systems Inc. (USSI) has developed an underwater fiber-optic sonar system that detects small craft entering protected areas.
The company recently showcased its technology at Lake Erie, Pennsylvania in a test sponsored by the Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane Indiana. The sensor system, which is part of a larger integrated harbor security system dubbed Harbor sentinel, successfully detected 100 percent of the attempted intrusions as far as 2.5 miles away.
During a previous test in May at San Diego’s Mission Bay, Harbor Sentinel also achieved similar results.
“There are 360 U.S. ports and harbors that conduct trillions of dollars commerce annually,” said Jeff Grannan of the Naval Surface Warfare Center. “Many of these facilities, which are located in close proximity to large metropolitan centers, handle a variety of highly toxic, flammable, and explosive materials.
Grannan continued, “Damage to or destruction of containers storing these substances poses a vulnerability to critical U.S. infrastructure, disruption of commerce and endangerment to the surrounding population. USSI’s new sensor technology can be an effective force multiplier to assist those agencies tasked with the vital role of keeping America safe.”
In a press release, Jim Anderson, the CEO of USSI, said, “We were gratified to be selected to participate in this very important program, and were very excited that our equipment performed so well under the actual, real-life harbor intrusion scenarios.”
“Our fiber optic sensor systems are designed for reliable, trouble-free operation in tough environments, such as in an oil well or at sea, and this highly successful test serves as just one more example of the advantages of our breakthrough technology over traditional, electronic-based sensor systems,” he added.
USSI, a subsidiary of Acorn Energy, Inc., specializes in the design and manufacture of fiber optic sensing systems and solutions for the energy and defense markets.
