Maritime Security Issues Research Articles

Introduction to the special issue on maritime security

The terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 heightened awareness about the vulnerability of all modes of transportation to terrorist attack. The issue of maritime security has therefore become a major concern in the international maritime sector over the past several years. Globalization has led to a strong growth in seaborne trade; however, it simultaneously increases vulnerability to not only terrorism but also international criminal activities that threaten the world's supply chain. For example, in 2008, the rise in piracy activities in the Gulf of Aden brought the issue of maritime security to the forefront of international debate. In addition to the direct impact on ships, crews and cargoes, and on the maritime industry and governments, piracy also threatens global seaborne trade, and has an impact on energy security and the environment [UNCTAD, 2009, Review of Maritime Transport 2009 (New York: United Nations)]. Maritime piracy can pose substantial risks to seaborne trades, with considerable commodities, ranging between raw materials and energy to high-value manufactured products, being shipped between global economic powerhouses [FU, X. W., NG, A. K. Y., LAU, Y. Y., forthcoming, The impacts of maritime piracy on global economic development: The case of Somalia. Maritime Policy and Management]. Maritime security management, including the definition of security, maritime risk assessment, security measures, the regulation and policy of maritime security in shipping and port-related business operations has been receiving growing attention, both in practice and research.

Indian Ocean maritime security: energy, environmental and climate challenges

For a comprehensive and meaningful understanding, the maritime-related security challenges facing the Indian Ocean littoral states need to be looked at broadly. Non-traditional security issues – from energy security and climate security to transnational terrorism and environmental degradation – are as important as traditional maritime security issues such as freedom of navigation, security of sea-lanes, maritime boundary and domain security, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and challenges to law and order (including piracy and sea robbery, criminal activities like drug, people and arms smuggling, illicit, unreported and unregulated fishing, illegal immigration, and maritime terrorism). The non-traditional issues extend to the maritime aspects of economic security, food security, environmental security and human security.

Korean Peninsula Maritime Issues

In the unique situation of the Korean Peninsula, which is still technically in a state of war, maritime issues are increasingly becoming critical in the relations between South Korea and North Korea. While cooperation in maritime affairs has helped to ease tensions and paved a way to reconciliatory efforts, maritime disputes adjacent to the Northern Limit Lines in the West and East Seas and maritime security issues such as South Korea's engagement in the Proliferation Security Initiative remain a source of conflict. This article looks at maritime affairs on the Korean Peninsula—a leading area of cooperation between the South and the North as well as a potential conflict flash point.

Maritime safety for fishing boat operations and avoidable hijacking in Taiwan

Taiwanese fishing boats have been hijacked many times this year. Trouble at sea can usually be attributed to communication problems, inappropriate management and an unfair salary system. The majority of boats hijacked are high sea (long-line) fishing boats. Although fishery authorities ask the fishing boats to set up vessel monitoring systems (VMSs), this precaution has not been sufficient. There is a further need for improved management by the fishing boat owner and for an improved employment policy for seamen. The issue of maritime security is not new, but it remains a major concern and continues to be a threat to Taiwan and other countries. To date, there have been many cases of hijacking in the South China Sea. This paper analyzes the reasons for the hijackings and provides potential strategies to prevent future incidents.

Maritime Security Issues in Southeast Asia, An Indonesian Perspective

In this globalize world the new threats to security are civil violence, transnational organized crime, terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, poverty, deadly infectious disease and environmental degradation. Transnational Organized Crime emerges into a serious threat to national and international security and stability with an increasingly adverse economic and social impact on States and civil society. This paper will discuss maritime security issues relevant to the situation in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia and in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. This article will focus on trafficking in persons in the context of maritime security and its challenges in the Straits of Malacca and Singapore. Moreover, it will also discuss Indonesia’s effort to address those issues at the national and regional level.

Effective maritime security: conceptual model and empirical evidence

In recent years, the issue of maritime security has become a major concern on the international maritime agenda. One of the issues in this respect is how to enhance security while not jeopardizing organizational efficiency and effectiveness, or to manage security effectively, e.g. facilitating the smooth flows of materials while enhancing supply chain security at the same time. In addressing this issue, we place three cornerstones for the effective management of security in maritime transport: quality management (QM), risk management (RM) and business continuity management (BCM). A conceptual model of effective maritime security, including 13 dimensions and 24 associated critical success factors, is devised following this reasoning. The model was tested through a survey of 119 maritime transport organizations and 25 interviews conducted in Vietnam. Findings support that all proposed 24 factors are valid and should be used as critical factors for success in effectively managing security in maritime transport, in that those involving security incident handling and response are rated as the most important in magnitude, along with security risk assessment, risk-based security mitigation strategies and plans, and senior management commitment and leadership. Managers can use the model designed and tested in this research to develop a checklist of essential components for their company's security management policies, strategies and plans. The use of a universal checklist to evaluate maritime security management would also greatly facilitate benchmarking across organizations in the industry.

Herausforderung: Maritime Sicherheit

S&F Sicherheit und Frieden , Seite 19 - 29

Private maritime security company (PMSC) in the Strait of Malacca

Recently, maritime security issues in the Strait of Malacca have been in the limelight. Statistics highlighting the risk of piracy faced by shipping in the Strait of Malacca and the possibility of a terrorist attack have led to an enhanced awareness of the need for heightened security. The declaration by Lloyd’s Joint War Committee (JWC) of the Strait as a “war risk area” has strengthened the perception that the littoral states have not done enough to make the Strait secure for international trade.

The Overall Situation in the South China Sea in the New Millennium: Before and After the September 11 Terrorist Attacks

This contribution reviews the overall situation in the South China Sea (SCS) between 2000 and June 2002. A number of important new developments and policy events have occurred during this period, including: the expansion of India's military presence from the Indian Ocean into the SCS; the efforts taken by Japan to promote cooperation in the SCS to deal with maritime security issues; the increase of military exercises conducted by both the claimants and nonclaimants in the SCS; the improvement of diplomatic relationships among the claimants, in particular, between China and the member states of ASEAN; the election of George W. Bush as U.S. President; the EP-3 incident and the September 11 terrorist attacks. These developments and events have the potential to affect peace and stability in the SCS. The changing security configuration of the SCS and possible responses of the claimants to the new strategic framework after the September 11 terrorist attacks, as well as their implications for managing potential conflicts in the SCS, are discussed.­

Current and Future Geographic Information System Projects within the Eastern Gulf of Mexico, and the Potential for One Universal Application

ABSTRACT Geographic information systems (GIS) have a wide range of capabilities, which can be used for a variety of useful applications, such as a resource for oil spill management or a maritime security response tool. These systems provide useful information in a graphically and timely fashion, making it an ideal system for managers making critical decisions. A number of GIS programs have been developed. Among these are the Geographic Specific Tactical Response Plan (GSTRP), Florida Marine Spill Analysis System (FMSAS) and the Maritime Security Strategic Information System (MSSIS). The GSTRP and FMSAS were developed to assist responders in the event of an oil spill, where response time is critical in order to effectively reduce environmental and monetary impact. The MSSIS has been developed to better plan for, react to, or protect the port from a terrorist/criminal threat. All of these programs are similar in scope and function, with overlapping areas of operation. Each also has unique features and together they form an excellent base upon which to build a universal GIS system. Many believe the development of a universal GIS, which combines spill response, maritime security, and potentially other functions would be beneficial to the area, region, and country. This concept was discussed following a presentation of the Alabama and Mississippi Oil Spill GIS at the Regional Response Team (RRT) IV meeting at the beginning of 2002. The Alabama and Mississippi Oil Spill GIS was developed with the intention of building upon the existing systems and adding state of the art technology with additional capabilities and an internet platform to make an all encompassing system. This discussion sparked a future meeting to discuss this potential and the logistics involved in it's undertaking. This paper examines the value and development of a universal GIS within RRT IV. This project also has the potential to address the same maritime security issues as previously discussed, making it a broad application. With this continuity the project could be a living application, which would grow as needs change and technology advances, enabled by the scope of the project and combined resource management and funding.

Present and Future Maritime Security Issues in the Southeast Asian and South China Seas

The question of maritime security in the Southeast Asian and South China Seas is of increasing importance. The re-emergence of the politics of may be found upon observing the activities of the littoral states of the South China Sea as well as the United States, the Soviet Union, and Japan. The assertion of 200-mile territorial claims by the regional states, the archipelagic concepts of Indonesia and the Philippines, and the continuing debate over the Convention on the Law of the Sea are all manifestations of national as well as attempts to find structural solutions to these conflicts. The maritime areas of Southeast Asia, including the South China Sea, are of interest not only to academics but also economists, international lawyers and strategists. Major sea lines of communi cation are of major economic and security importance to all nations conducting trade in Asia across the major straits and the South China Sea. Natural resources, especially hydrocarbons, offshore minerals and fisheries are becoming increas ingly important to the regional states. China, Japan and Indonesia will increasingly rely on fish as a major source of protein. Most regional states with 200-mile exclusive economic zones (see map) believe that oil and natural gas may be found in the continental shelf areas. Offshore minerals, especially tin, may be exploited by those states with proximity and know-how. Finally, these waters and adjacent islands are and have historically been points of political and strategic friction between the neighbouring states of the region. In this paper, the following points will be discussed: 1. That natural resources to be found in maritime Southeast Asian waters, such as hydrocarbons, fish and offshore minerals, will be the focus of increased competition and friction in the future. 2. That the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea defined the issues but has, so far, failed to provide a satisfactory framework for the solution of all the competing interests of the interested states. 3. That an arms build-up in the region is in progress, especially in naval-related missile-armed fast patrol craft, patrol aircraft, diesel submarines and amphibious shipping. 4. That Vietnam and China have, to date, shown less restraint in using force than the other states which have maritime claims in the region. 5. That negotiations have been held between Vietnam and Indonesia and Vietnam