Underwater Infrastructure Protection, Risk Mitigation, and Pro-active Prosecution: PART I By Douglas Burnett and Bob Bannon
Summary As a result of the terrorist attacks in the United States and Europe, actions were taken to overhaul airport, harbor, and transportation security, including surveillance of vital global communication infrastructure, to prevent disruptions of services. Today, submarine cable communication is the preferred technology used to provide inexpensive and secure voice and data transport throughout the world. In the United States, underwater fiber optic communication cable systems used for telecommunications, military surveillance, electrical power distribution, or subsea oil and gas distribution pipeline monitoring are within the purview of the Office of Homeland Security. These cables, as well as oil and gas distribution pipelines, are considered critical assets; therefore, the underwater community, as well as government agencies, have planned and implemented aggressive and pro-active security measures. Protection plans for ports and harbors, underwater systems technologies, and all critical maritime resources are undergoing major examination to safeguard against aggression and to provide secure restoration and business continuity. Pro-active roles are evolving for Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs) capable of supporting expanded harbor surveillance, detailed subsea surveys, risk assessment and mitigation, and prosecution, thus protecting critical subsea infrastructure. This paper addresses risk assessment, prevention of physical aggression, and the implementation of disaster recovery solutions, including the support of FEMA as in the case of the recovery from the natural disaster devastation caused by hurricanes, typhoons, and tsunamis.
Further actions have been implemented internationally that resulted in the overhaul of airport, harbor, and transportation security, ranging from advanced surveillance to active defense of vital infrastructures to prevent disruptions of services, such as global communications and the internet.
Introduction Since the onslaught of the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center and the subsequent European and Asian terrorist attacks through 2005, the focus of governmental agencies throughout the world has been the protection of human life, the world economy, and critical infrastructure security and defense. The U.S. response and global focus resulted in the creation of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security in January 2003.
The opinions expressed herein are the personal views of the authors and do not represent the views of the Office of Homeland Security, the Department of Defense, or the International Cable Protection Committee Ltd. (ICPC).
to prevent the occurrence of further catastrophic events escalated in European countries, especially after the Madrid Attocha Train Station bombing on March 11, 2004, which killed 192 victims and injured 1400. The events in Russia, including the September 4, 2004 terrorist hostage siege at the Beslan School that resulted in 350 dead children and an additional 448 people wounded, resulted in President Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin stating, “We must create a much more effective system of security; we couldn’t adequately react. ... we showed weakness, and weak people are beaten.” The United Kingdom, which has faced attacks of homegrown terrorism for decades, has now been the focus of the new world order of terrorism resulting from radical religious extremists. The July 7, 2005 transportation system bombings in London resulted in fifty-six people being killed and 700 injured in the deadliest terrorist attack since the Pan Am Lockerby Flight 103 tragedy, which killed 270 people. In addition to the loss of life, the rush hour London Underground train and bus bombings disrupted city transportation and wireless communications for several days. There has been speculation regarding links between these bombers and another alleged al-Qaeda cell in Luton, which were broken up in August 2004. That cell was uncovered after al-Qaeda operative Muhammad Naeem Noor Khan was arrested in Lahore, Pakistan.
Similar restructuring of allied anti-terrorist efforts
Therefore, the underwater community, as well as the Department of Homeland Security, must exercise pro-active risk assessment and mitigation techniques to prevent catastrophes from occurring. Protection planning and implementation for underwater systems technologies, cable stations, terrestrial backhaul facilities, and maritime resources are undergoing major refinements to safeguard against acts of terrorism and to provide secure restoration. In addition to government efforts, the International Cable Protection Committee Ltd. (ICPC) is developing security recommendations for the individual facility owners and operators.