Do You Have an Eye on Your Harbour?
November 2006
Submitted by: Shark Marine Technologies

With all of the security threats in recent years, one area that is still under-protected is the security of our waterways and harbours. Shark Marine Technologies Inc. has recently released a Harbour Security Command and Control Software, called “Harbour Watch”. The Harbour Watch software pulls together data from multiple sensors and presents a complete and current view of traffic in the area. Targets above and below the surface, are tracked and information about movement in critical areas is organized and displayed so you can immediately respond with the appropriate action. Following is a scenario that demonstrates how Harbour Watch works to protect your assets.

It is an average day in the harbour. Vessels are staying out of the secure regions of the harbour. Suddenly your Harbour Watch system shows an unidentified sonar target that’s origin coincides with the path of a fleeing vessel. Your system is sent into high alert as the target enters a restricted area.

Your immediate response is to alert the authorities of the situation and to dispatch a vessel to intercept the now departing vessel. You are able to inform the authorities of the direct path which the vessel in question is heading and where it originated. While the authorities are in pursuit of the vessel, you turn your attention to the unidentified sonar target.

Assuming the target is a diver, using a parametric sonar system, they are given a warning, through an underwater hailing system, that they have entered a restricted area and to surface immediately. When the target does not surface, you immediately dispatch a vessel equipped with real-time imaging sonar to the area.

Back to the surface vessel. Since you are able to track both the vessel in question and the response vessel, you can relate comparative locations. Even as the unidentified vessel moves amongst other vessels in the harbour, the system will always show its direct path, which enables the authorities to confirm that it is the vessel that the target emerged from. The response vessel is then able to intercept and apprehend the vessel in question.

From the vessel, with real-time imaging sonar, you are able to get a clear detailed image of the target. You see that it is in fact a diver that is carrying a package. You send a final hale to the diver to surface immediately or a deterrent will be used. Once again, there is no response. You then make the decision to apply a non-lethal deterrent which drives the diver to the surface where he is apprehended.

This scenario could be happening in your harbour right now. How will you know when it does? Perhaps you think it unlikely that terrorists would attack a harbour from underwater. It has been reported that terrorist groups have been trained in scuba diving from as early as 2001, and as the surface security is enhanced, underwater becomes the preferred method of attack. Simply put, if you don’t have an eye on your harbour, who does?

Harbour Watch integrates with many types of sonar and other sensing systems, it can even work with your existing systems. A system that is perfectly suited to the security of your harbour will be implemented so that you have the best possible knowledge and ability to protect your assets. A preview of Harbour Watch can be viewed at www.sharkmarine.com.

For further information, contact Shark Marine Technologies at 905-687-6672 or sales@sharkmarine.com.