A Port waterside security systemic analysis

Most of current Port Security analyses provide a clear view of the land-side security measures (fencing, access control, area monitoring...) but the seaside security issues are not always that clearly defined (exact extent, Authority in charge, assessment of realistic threats etc.). In one hand, there is no doubt that proper seaside security measures are even more site-specific than terrestrial ones. In the other hand, providing some sort of systemic analysis can help for “setting the scene” and easing the alignment of all stakeholders for specifying the strictly compliant but most cost-effective solution lay-out. Water-side port security includes a range of activities, of preventive character, ultimately aiming at controlling who and what enters the port area from the water side. It includes crews, passengers and cargo entering on-board of large announced vessels, on-board of small un-announced surface crafts, swimmers, divers or even small submersibles. It also includes vessel under-keel appendices commonly used for smuggling and, potentially, for terrorism... Response measures are very diverse. They can range from intelligence and information management, satellite imagery, radar and VTS down to sophisticated underwater and/or above-water sensors, manned or unmanned patrolling and inspection assets etc. A number of these measures are local, but others require wide area surveillance activities and some might require controls as far as the port of departure or the last ports of call. This paper aims in providing a taxonomy of the waterside port threats and the respective means of protection/response, identifying possible gaps and technology requirements.