Security challenges in maritime ports and risk management strategies

Maritime Environment

The objective of this study is to answer the questions of what are the specific security challenges in a port maritime environment. This work will additionally describe the following as they pertain to port management security: (1) security survey; (2) risk-based decision-making; and (3) cost effective risk assessment. Finally, this work will answer the question of what is asymmetric warfare and will describe the megaports initiative.

Maritime Environment Security Challenges

The work of Bhaskar and Kemp (2011) report security in the maritime environment to include "The security of chokepoints in the region -- the Straits of Hormuz, the Bab-el-Mandeb, and the Indonesian Straits" stated to have become a "matter of great strategic importance for all maritime powers." (p.3) In addition stated is security challenges related to the "conflict in the Persian Gulf and piracy near Bab-el-Mandeb, due in part to the failed state of Somalia, are two issues of concern." (Bhaskar and Kemp, 2011, p.3) Maritime security issues are reported to include " The Indonesian the protection of sea lines of communication (SLOCs), are paralleled by increasing importance of the broadband communication connections between Asia, Europe, and the United States that are linked by undersea cables traversing the Indian Ocean. Ensuring the future security of the sea lines and cable routes has now become an issue for all the Asian powers." (Bhaskar and Kemp, 2011, p.3)

III. Asymmetric Warfare

The work entitled "Doctrine for Asymmetric Warfare" reports that asymmetric warfare is such that "encompasses a wide scope of theory, experience, conjecture, and definition, the implicit premise is that asymmetric warfare deals with unknowns, with surprise in terms of ends, ways, and means. The more dissimilar the opponent, the more difficult it is to anticipate his actions." (Military Review, 2003, p.18)

IV. Megaports Initiative

The National Nuclear Security Administration reports that the Megaports Initiative began in 2003 and involves NNSA teaming up with other countries toward enhancement of the ability to screen cargo at major international seaports. The initiative is reported to make the provision of "radiation detection equipment and trains their personnel to specifically check for nuclear or other radioactive materials. In return, NNSA requires that data be shared on detections and seizures of nuclear or radiological material that resulted from the use of the equipment provided." (nd, p.1)