New Security Barriers Being Installed at NASNI
Navy Newsstand
Story Number: NNS030905-02
Release Date: 9/5/2003 8:09:00 AM
By Journalist 2nd Class Rebecca Horton, Navy Region Southwest Public Affairs
CORONADO, Calif. (NNS) -- Installation of new floating security barriers around the North Island aircraft carrier basin will begin Sept. 4.
The floating eight-foot high barrier system will bring Naval Base Coronado in line with the U.S. Navy's increased security plans. These plans were put in place to prevent small-boat terrorist attacks against Navy ships, such as the USS Cole (DDG 67) incident in the Port of Aden, Yemen.
Post-Cole, the Navy increased its physical security posture on all assets to include those homeported here in the San Diego bay. Navy policy now mandates certain physical security requirements be in place to protect these assets.
In the coming months, eight-foot high barriers will also be installed at Naval Base Point Loma.
The two-foot line of demarcation currently being used at the North Island aircraft carrier basin will eventually be moved to Naval Station San Diego, providing Navy vessels there with a line of demarcation that is in accordance with the Navy's security plans for such assets.
"Approval for placement of the barrier came in the fall of 2002 from the California Coastal Commission, the San Diego Bay Harbor Safety Committee and the Army Corps of Engineers, as well as a host of other agencies. Following approval, we were granted a permit to continue plans for construction," said retired Cmdr. Jack Van Zandt, former program manager for Navy Region Southwest Port Operations.
Prior to approval, an environmental assessment was done at all three bases. The only issue identified was with eel grass near Point Loma in the area, where one of the moorings was to be placed. The mooring location was changed, and the barrier system was modified to prevent any problems. The barrier system was deemed environmentally sound.
The barriers made by Dunlop Inc., are inflated cylinders of a rubber-coated textile, measuring 82-feet long by eight-feet in diameter. They will be linked together or to a mooring buoy. Within the barrier system, gates have been created to allow for the transit of naval vessels.
"This effective interdiction will provide operational termination of the attack, by damaging or entangling the boat, or delaying the boat's progress until security forces can arrive on the scene," said Patrick Condon, boat barrier deputy program manager, office of the Chief of Naval Operations.
The Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center tested the effectiveness of the Dunlop Floating Barrier system for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service Antiterrorism-Force Protection Division in May 2001. The testing included computer modeling that was verified by full-scale testing of the barrier against a threat boat.
"The barrier system will be installed just inside of the restricted Maritime Exclusion zones put in place by the U.S. Coast Guard," said Condon. "In the spring of 2002 Navy Region Southwest worked with the U.S. Coast Guard to expand the mandated Maritime Exclusion zones around the carrier basin, to meet Navy policy requirements of maximum standoff between a possible threat vessel and the U.S. Navy asset," said Condon.
They worked to enlarge and change the zoning, so that the final placement of the barrier system will fall within the set Maritime Exclusion zone, taking into account movement of the barriers in the wind.
After the zones were changed, a line of demarcation was set where the new barriers will be put in place. The overall goal for this program is to enhance water-borne security for Navy ships while in port.
San Diego will not be the first to use the Dunlop Boat Barrier System; these barriers have already been put in place at several Navy bases.
Installation at all San Diego bases is expected to be complete this fall.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
