MARITIME SECURITYEvolving Threats Met by Market InnovationA look at commercial off-the-shelf technologies and products designed to mitigate risk at sea and in port. By Joseph Keefen a post 9/11 world, many facets of maritime security HALO MARITIME DEFENSE SYSTEMSonly seem to grow. Global threats, despite best efforts, do HALO Maritime Defense Systems markets a system de-I not diminish. Chief among these issues are port security, signed to provide waterside protection of ports and harbors with the protection of critical energy assets and the scourge of pi- maritime security barriers that are stable and effective. Accord-racy on the high seas. As the cost of meeting both challenges ing to HALO, a majority of maritime security barriers in use climbs, ship operators and port executives look to economi- today are inherently unstable, prone to ? ipping over in rough cally manage their risk. The effort weighs heavily on the seas and provide limited security. Legacy maritime security bottom line at a time when many maritime sectors are strug- barriers, most dating back to the period immediately follow-gling in the red. Nevertheless, ADM Jay Cohen (U.S Navy, ing 9/11 when the emerging threat to ports was only becoming Ret.), former Chief of Naval Research, told MarPro in July, evident, are commonly referred to as ‘Type I’ barriers. HALO’s “Life is risk versus cost.” As the man tasked with protecting new system offers a breakthrough design, termed Type II Mari-U.S. Trident submarine assets in Georgia immediately fol- time Security Barriers, to overcome those de? ciencies.lowing 9/11, Cohen ought to know. The world of port security changed forever on October 12, In terms of today’s maritime security threats, managers are 2000 with the attack on the USS Cole. That incident clearly measuring the risk of losing the assets that make them money demonstrated that the threat from a determined terrorist in a against the cost of providing adequate protection. The quan- small boat was both real and very dif? cult to defend against. dary is not unlike that which faced safety managers in the not- The rush to deploy an adequate solution eventually saw the too-distant past. Eventually, the discussion of safety evolved U.S. Navy procuring in? atable boat barriers. This ‘Type 1’ from one which was viewed purely as a cost center to an ef- equipment provided some protection, but with them came a fort where quality ship operators now understand that robust raft of other issues, including inferior stopping power, insta-safety programs actually make money. Maritime security ef- bility in rough seas and sometimes high maintenance costs.forts, if they are headed in the same direction, arguably have Today, the U.S. Navy is looking for a better mousetrap. not reached the same plateau. That hasn’t stopped the market Beyond that market, however, the world’s 440 nuclear plants from rolling out new equipment and technology to meet the – all situated on or nearby water – need protection, as well. growing global threat against maritime assets and infrastruc- The growing LNG market, which will necessitate the prolif-ture. In this issue of MarPro, a look at just a few of these in- eration of both import and export marine facilities here and novations gives the waterfront new hope in the war on terror. abroad, has its own vulnerability problem. Looking past the HALO Maritime Defense Systems42 | Maritime Professional | 3Q 2014 34-49 Q3 MP2014.indd 42 34-49 Q3 MP2014.indd 42 8/15/2014 10:16:22 AM8/15/2014 10:16:22 AM