WhisprWave® Floating Security Barriers Designated as a Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology

SUMMIT, N.J. — April 14, 2011 — Wave Dispersion Technologies, Inc. (WDT) the industry’s premier provider of boat barriers and floating security barriers, has earned the prestigious United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) SAFETY Act Designation, and the WhisprWave® Small Craft Intrusion Barrier (SCIB) and the WhisprWave® Vessel Exclusion Barrier (VEB) products are now designated as Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technologies (QATT).

The Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies Act of 2002 (SAFETY Act) provides important legal liability protections for providers of QATT, and for customers who use them. The goal of the SAFETY Act is to encourage providers to develop and deploy new and innovative anti-terrorism products and services by providing risk mitigation and liability protections. Congress has stated that the purpose of the SAFETY Act is to “ensure that the threat of liability does not deter potential manufacturers or sellers of anti-terrorism technologies from developing and commercializing technologies that could save lives.”

WhisprWave® Boat barriers provide a strong deterrent against the threat of a small boat being used to deliver a Water Borne Improvised Explosive Device (WBIED) against another vessel, maritime critical infrastructure, or other key resources.  This specific scenario was detailed as a real and significant threat in the Department of Homeland Security’s Small Vessel Security Strategy published in 2008 and updated in 2010.

“We feel that WDT’s WhisprWave® boat barriers SAFETY Act designation will help us to better support DHS’s overall mission, mitigate the small boat threat, provide growth opportunities for our small business and lead to job creation,” said Dennis G. Smith, Founder and CEO of WDT.

To qualify for the SAFETY Act Designation, WDT submitted a formal application to the DHS that underwent a technical and economic evaluation. Technologies eligible for SAFETY Act status include products, equipment, services, devices and information technologies. These must be intended to limit the harm that might result from acts of terrorism and to detect, identify, prevent or deter such acts.

“Very few companies have achieved this type of approval from DHS, and the level of scrutiny involved is extraordinary.  This definitely represents a vote of confidence in the technology,” said Dana Rozycki of Rozycki Associates, LLC, a consulting firm that assisted with the application process.
For more information, visit http://www.whisprwave.com or call Jonathan B. Smith at (908) 233-7503.

About Wave Dispersion Technologies, Inc. (www.whisprwave.com):

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. The Company has received U.S. Department of Homeland Security SAFETY Act Designation and the products have been designated as Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technologies (QATT).

About Rozycki Associates, LLC (www.govt-contracts.com):

Rozycki Associates, LLC assists federal contractors with contracts management and regulatory compliance, with a focus on GSA Schedule negotiation and management.

More about the SAFETY Act of 2002 (www.safetyact.gov):

• DHS Briefing on SAFETY Act of 2002
• The Homeland Security and Defense Business Council on the SAFETY Act
• Recent SAFETY Act Designations
• Patton Boggs, LLP on SAFETY Act

Contact:

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

Testimony of Acting Deputy Under Secretary Paul Benda, Science and Technology Directorate, before the House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies, “Unlocking the SAFETY Act’s Potential to Promote Technology and Combat Terrorism”

The Support Anti-Terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (SAFETY) Act of 2002

Good afternoon, Chairman Lungren, Ranking Member Clarke and distinguished Members of the Subcommittee. I am honored to appear before you today on behalf of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate (S&T). The Support Anti-terrorism by Fostering Effective Technologies (SAFETY) Act of 2002, enacted by Congress as part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, has had a prominent role in improving the security of the United States. The SAFETY Act provides incentives for the development and deployment of effective anti-terrorism technologies through systems of risk and litigation management. The purpose of the Act is to ensure that the threat of liability does not deter potential manufacturers or sellers and users of anti-terrorism technologies from developing and commercializing technologies that could save lives. The Act creates certain liability limitations for claims arising out of, relating to, or resulting from an act of terrorism where “qualified anti-terrorism technologies” have been deployed. My testimony will discuss program performance, the application review process and how S&T is using this important tool to incentivize the development and widespread, high-impact deployment of effective anti-terrorism technologies and services throughout the United States.

Strong Interest, Steadfast Support

The SAFETY Act Program continues to be very popular with the private sector and the Department has continued its steadfast support for the Program. Since the first applications were received in 2004, more than 440 “qualified anti-terrorism technologies” under the SAFETY Act have been approved. These technologies have been widely deployed to protect commercial facilities, critical infrastructure, transportation hubs, ports, borders, sports venues and commercial aviation. Examples representing the broad scope of SAFETY Act protections that have been approved during Under Secretary O’Toole’s tenure include:

A modular, rapidly deployable floating security barrier system designed to protect targets from high speed small boats.

Full Testimony

The National Terrorism Advisory System, or NTAS, replaces the color-coded Homeland Security Advisory System (HSAS). This new system will more effectively communicate information about terrorist threats by providing timely, detailed information to the public, government agencies, first responders, airports and other transportation hubs, and the private sector.

The briefing below is very well done briefing on the layers of port security defenses that need to be implemented to provide maritime force protection and commercial port security. The presentation was presented by Dan Piepgrass, Commander, Naval Installations Command and Chris Powell from Anchor Innovation, Inc.

The overall presentation is professional, comprehensive, and well written. It is worth a quick read if you are interested in port security planning and operations.

One of the most interesting aspects from Wave Dispersion Technologies’ (WDT) perspective is on the slide entitled “Technology Needs:”

PORT SECURITY BARRIERS: Lower cost, stronger, lighter, low maintenance

WDT offers a line of port security barriers that are Commercially available Off-The-Shelf (COTS) and meet the criteria outlined above. WDT would be happy to discuss its line of port security barriers with anyone who is looking for alternative solutions.

Full Briefing: Comprehensive Port Security U.S. Navy Installation Perspective

DHS - SAFETY Act

“No one ever got fired for buying DHS SAFETY Act Qualified Anti-Terrorism Technology (QATT)” (or “Nobody gets fired for buying DHS SAFETY Act QATT) means that no one gets fired to making the safe pick and a product vetted by the US Department of Homeland Security. Other companies might offer lower prices, but they often come with substantial reputational and career risks.

More about the SAFETY Act of 2002 (www.safetyact.gov):

• DHS Briefing on SAFETY Act of 2002
• The Homeland Security and Defense Business Council on the SAFETY Act
• Recent SAFETY Act Designations
• Patton Boggs, LLP on SAFETY Act

Kenneth Christopher’s book entitled Port Security Management covers a wide range of port security topics including the importance of a well planned layered security / layered defense plan for any port security plan. Below is an excerpt from the Chapter entitled: “Systemic Measures for a Secure and Viable Port Facility,” detailing the merits of a layered security approach.

The role of security at port facilities is driven by two imperatives: (1) developing measures aimed at neutralizing vulnerability to criminal activity and security threats, and (2) affecting the nexus between the port and those who would commit crime and terrorism. Key to this effort is developing a layered approach to security, that is, a variety of tools that, when interrelated, provide a strong defense against terrorism and crime. Port security is enhanced through the development of multiple security systems and processes. Physical security measures, combined with access controls, present a multidimensional security barrier. The intention is that if one layer of security fails to detect an unwanted threat, another layer will work to identify and neutralize the treat.

Layered security is an important aspect of any well designed security plan. The silver bullet solution is initially compelling, but almost always a short sighted and insufficient means of securing critically important assets.

The Small Vessel Security Implementation Plan Report to the Public – January 2011, provided a very compelling description and rationale for layered security outlined below:

The Plan employs a layered approach (described below) to achieve a defense in depth strategy against potential threats. Using this approach, the federal government can systematically deploy an array of capabilities or implement methods to increase MDA and to respond to any detected threats. This approach is designed to thwart adversaries by raising the likelihood of detection through an array of operational techniques. No single capability or method is certain to succeed against a particular threat but, in combination, an array of capabilities and methods are likely to disrupt and stop a broad range of known and unknown threats. Moreover, the methods in this layered approach are flexible by design and can be implemented at federal, state and local levels to manage specific risks related to maritime terrorism, crime, security, and safety in general.

Layered Methods and Potential Adversary Actions

Tokyo Electric Power Co. (TEPCO) announced today that they are going to utilize an underwater silt fence in an attempt to stem the tide of radiation contaminated water at Reactor No. 2 at the Fukushima Ai Ichi Nuclear Power Plant.

“A silt fence ensures that mud down deep doesn’t seep through,” Hidehiko Nishiyama, Japan’s spokesman on nuclear safety, said in Tokyo. The barrier may take “several days” to install and will “ensure that water doesn’t leak from the area in front of the No. 2 reactor’s intake duct and the conduit.” Source: Bloomberg

The form of silt fence that is being used at the nuclear reactor is most likely known in the industry as a turbidity barrier or turbidity curtain.   A turbidity curtain is flexible, impermeable barrier used to trap sediment in water bodies. This curtain is generally weighted at the bottom to ensure that sediment does not travel under the curtain which is supported at the top through a flotation system.

Below is a schematic of a similar turbidity barrier designed to capture oil vs. radiation, but I would imagine that the installation in this case is very similar.

Sample of Turbidity Curtain Deployment

Source: www.gunderboom.com

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