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Maritime Security

Fact Sheets Maritime Security Act

 

Planning Requirements into Effective Port Security

US GAO Report June 2004


80% of the world's traded cargo (5.8 billion tons in 2001) is carried in 46,000 ships staffed with 1.2 million seafarers to more than 4,000 ports worldwide.

Incidents:

2001 October 16th. - USA, Massachusetts, Boston: port was closed out of fear that terrorist would attack the gas terminal

2001 October 18th. - Southern Italy, port of Gioia Taura: stowaways in containers were found, fitted with bed, toilet, heater, water supply, laptop computers, satellite phones, etc.)

2002 October - Yemen: torpedo attack on the French tanker MV Limburg

Scenarios:

  • Vessels used to smuggle people (terrorists) in and out of a country

  • Steering a hijacked vessel loaded with crude oil or toxic chemicals or aground or detonating its cargo to create an environmental catastrophe

  • Smuggling explosive devices, weapons, or other agents (nuclear, biological, chemical) in and out of a country

  • Hijacking a large passenger vessel (ferry, cruise liner) and detonating explosives
  • Steering a hijacked tanker (i.e., loaded with LPG or natural gas) into


    • a port
    • a bridge (i.e., Golden Gate)
    • a populated seaside area
    • a large passenger vessel (ferry, cruise ship)

 




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