Archive for March, 2011

The November 2010 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News included an article entitled U.S. Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010. That article had an impressive picture of the WhisprWave® Boat Barrier protecting the USCG WHEC at USCG Station Alameda.

Full Article

WhisprWave® Boat Barrier

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tsunami Uncovers Nuclear Reactor’s Thirst and Highlights Need for Boat Barriers
Incident Reinforces the Fact that Water Intakes Require Additional Security Measures to Protect them from Small Boat Attack

SUMMIT, N.J. — March 25, 2011 — Establishing, demarcating and physically securing maritime security zones with boat barriers around the cooling water intakes and waste water discharges for America’s 104 nuclear power plants is a necessary nuclear security upgrade, particularly in light of the recent Tsunami induced nuclear disaster in Japan.  The Tsunami that struck Japan on March 11, 2011 created a domino effect that resulted in the Fukushima Ai Ichi Nuclear Power Plant’s reactors overheating due to the failure of its water-cooling system.  This incident put a global spotlight on a key vulnerability of the world’s nuclear reactors.

In light of the events of 9/11, security officials have been vocal about the need to improve critical infrastructure security. Boat barriers provide a visible physical deterrent for inadvertent recreational boat traffic from entering the security zone.  Boat barriers also establish a physical layer of security to deter, deny and delay terrorists utilizing water-borne improvised explosive devices (WBIED) delivered via a small boat.

There have been a number of small boat terrorist attacks against critical infrastructure assets. In October 2002, a 15-foot suicide small boat attacked the M/V Limburg, a French-flagged VLCC supertanker, off the coast of Yemen, disabling it and causing substantial explosion and fire related damage.  In October 2001, the Tamil Sea Tigers in Sri Lanka attacked the M/V Silk Pride, an oil tanker, with five small boats, also damaging and disabling this vessel. While refueling in the Port of Yemen in October 2000, the USS Cole was attacked by an explosives laden small boat, which put a gaping hole in the side of the vessel. The small boat threat is real and the need for boat barriers to protect high value and critical infrastructure is clear.

The US Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) strategy for the small boat threat is outlined in “The 2008 Small Vessel Security Strategy.”   The document outlines four primary threat types posed by small boats, the WBIED specific threat is outlined below:

“Use of small vessels as Water Borne Improvised Explosive Device – small, explosive-laden vessels used as “boat bombs” against another vessel, maritime critical infrastructure, or key resources”

A WBIED small boat attack resulting in the starvation of a nuclear reactor’s cooling supply is the scenario that is most likely considered, further supporting the logic that nuclear cooling intakes need to be protected by boat barriers.

On April 29, 2003 The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) issued a revision to its Design Based Threat (DBT) (which describes the approximate size and attributes of the threats against which licensees must defend their facilities). These included the implementation of security measures to guard against waterborne attacks.  Waterborne attacks via small boat or otherwise are clearly on the NRC’s security roadmap.  The exact details of the plans are classified, but in light of the nuclear incident in Japan it is prudent for the US Nuclear Industry to “harden” its security infrastructure and implement robust, survivable and industry tested boat barriers, such as the WhisprWave® line of floating security barriers.

For more information, visit http://www.whisprwave.com or call Jonathan B. Smith at (908) 233-7503.

About Wave Dispersion Technologies, Inc.:

Wave Dispersion Technologies, Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer and marketer of floating security barriers and floating wave attenuators, with over 50 product installations , on four continents, of its patented WhisprWave® line of innovative maritime solutions for the following markets: government, military, commercial and consumer. The Company has been developing the technology for 15 years and holds eight Domestic and International Patents for design and utility, with another 20 patents pending.

Contact:

Jonathan B Smith
Chief Operating Officer
Wave Dispersion Technologies, Inc.
908-233-7503
[email protected]
www.whisprwave.com

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The New York Police Department is buying a new 72 foot vessel that will be the largest in the NYPD Harbor Unit.  The vessel has jet propulsion speeds along at 40 knots and carries 25 to 30 officers.  The boat cost $5 million and is being built by Gladding-Hearn Shipbuilding Co.  The vessel is being has bullet proof protection throughout including anti-ballistic protection around the engine, windows, walls and pilot house.  It is designed to respond to water borne improvised explosive device as well as live shooters in the port.  It also has sealed doors and windows and a positive-pressure-protected cabin that could be activated to keep out contaminated air in case of a chemical, biological or radiological attack.  A decontamination unit on board will be able to treat victims of such attacks rescued by the boat’s crew.

Read more: NYPD Hull Raiser

The DHS Strategy was created to address the potential for commercial or recreational small vessels to be used to smuggle terrorists or weapons (including weapons of mass destruction) into the United States, as a stand-off weapon platform, or as a direct attack method to deliver a water-borne improvised explosive device (WBIED). Following the Strategy, the Plan seeks to improve Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA), maritime security and safety alike. It improves existing operations and systems by leveraging the actions and resources of stakeholder groups in the commercial private sector and the recreational boating community.

The Strategy’s four major goals are:

• Develop a strong partnership with the small vessel community to enhance maritime domain awareness, that is the effective understanding of anything associated with the maritime domain that could impact our security, safety, economy, or environment;
• Strengthen maritime security and safety based on a coherent plan with a layered, innovative approach;
• Exploit technology to enhance our ability to detect, determine the intent of, and, where necessary, interdict small vessels; and,
• Improve coordination, cooperation, and communications between the public and private sectors, as well as with our international partners.

Full Report

DHS has a simple section of their site addressing the Small Boat Threat as outlined in the The 2008 Small Vessel Security Strategy.  The section of the DHS site is entitled Small Vessel Security.

The site outlines the following threats:

• Use of small vessels as a conveyance to smuggle weapons (including, but not limited to, Weapons of Mass Destruction/Effect);
• Use of small vessels as Water Borne Improvised Explosive Device – small, explosive-laden vessels used as “boat bombs” against another vessel, maritime critical infrastructure, or key resources;
• Use of small vessels as a conveyance to smuggle terrorists into the U.S.; and
• Use of small vessels as a platform for standoff weapon (e.g. Man Portable Air Defense Systems, SCUD platform for launch offshore) attacks on the maritime industry or critical infrastructure.

Public Service Announcement about the American Waterways Watch, aka Maritime “See Something, Say Something.”

The NY Times had an article yesterday entitled Seawalls Offered Little Protection Against Tsunami’s Crushing Waves, that discussed how the seawalls that were designed to protect Japan’s coastlines from tsunamis were completely overwhelmed by the shear force and magnitude of the disaster.  The Japanese plan to protect their coastline was robust and responsible, but unfortunately was no match for mother nature.

Excerpt from the story:

Along with developing quake-resistant buildings, the coastal infrastructure represents postwar Japan’s major initiative against earthquakes and tsunamis . . . the devastation in coastal areas and a final death toll predicted to exceed 10,000 could push Japan to redesign its seawalls — or reconsider its heavy reliance on them altogether . . . the seawalls at the Japanese plants probably could not handle tsunami waves of the height that struck them . . . the tsunami walls either should have been built higher . . . increasing the height of tsunami walls, he said, is the obvious answer in the immediate term.

This is the FY2012 Posture Statement that provides an overview of the USCG’s Mission and FY2012 Budget. It is a very well done piece about the USCG and their mission and budget needs.

USCG 2011 Posture Statement

Interesting piece about Homeland Security’s effort to develop a buoy capable of ultimately sniffing Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) materials onboard approaching ships.

The threat is real. The objective is daunting. It sounds like a project forHomeland Security Advanced Research Projects Agency (HSARPA) or Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA).

This would be a great technology to integrate as part of a layered security solution in conjunction with the WhisprWave® line of Boat Barriers.

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