Wiley Handbook of Science and Technology for Homeland Security, 4 Volume Set

SECURITY ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGIES FOR U.S. PORTS AND WATERWAYS

D. BRIAN PETERMAN, JOSEPH DIRENZO III, AND CHRISTOPHER W. DOANE

United States Coast Guard

1 INTRODUCTION

The challenge of securing critical infrastructure within the US Maritime Domain is daunting. With over 95,000 miles of maritime border, 361 maritime ports, thousands of critical maritime facilities, and millions of recreational and commercial maritime users, the US Maritime Domain is too vast to be completely protected. Compounding the problem is the Maritime Transportation System that provides over $700 billion a year to the nation's economy; a system that is highly sensitive to interruption. The only feasible solution to this maritime security dilemma is to prioritize maritime security efforts using a rigorous process to assess risk at the national, regional, and port levels. Since the horrific attacks of September 11, 2001, the US Coast Guard has developed, refined, and continuously updated maritime risk assessment tools and methods to inform maritime security operations against the ever-changing worldwide asymmetric terrorist threat. Settling upon the equation, risk = threat × vulnerability × consequence, the capability to assess maritime risk is now several iterations ahead of where the country was after the attacks. This assessment process will remain a “living process” requiring constant modification to stay apace of changes in maritime use and terrorist adaptations to security measures.

2 BACKGROUND

The attractiveness ...