RAND warns on cruise terrorism
ARLINGTON, Virginia 24 October – A new study by “non-profit think-tank” RAND Corp argues that terrorism attacks on cruise and ferry vessels are more likely than incidents involving container vessels, thus more attention must be paid by policymakers to defending the passenger sector. “Attacks on cruise ships and ferry boats would meet the interrelated requirements of visibility, destruction and disruption that drive contemporary trans-national terrorism,” RAND’s Peter Chalk maintains, suggesting that the current focus on container supply-chain security has taken the spotlight off the more likely threat. RAND agreed that the worst-case scenario in maritime terrorism was a detonation of nuclear device smuggled through a major port inside a shipping container, but said that the likelihood of such an attack is “far lower” than the passenger-vessel scenario. On the container front, RAND said that pervasive checks on containers moving through the supply chain “is impractical and imperfect”, arguing instead that policymakers should focus on control of nuclear weapons and materials at the point of origin and “planning to facilitate the restart of ports and container shipping systems” following an attack. Commenting on other potential commercial shipping threats, RAND said that there is little prospect of terrorists attempting to block a shipping lane by sinking a ship, because it would “not achieve terrorists’ desire for maximum public attention through inflicted loss of life”. Furthermore, the group says that “there is no observable evidence that terrorists and piracy syndicates are collaborating to attack marine targets”, noting that “their motivations and overall objectives are frequently in conflict”. Overall, in the light of terrorism motivations, RAND maintains that passenger shipping is the most likely maritime target, with attack modes potentially including ramming assaults involving improvised explosive devices, standoff artillery assaults and biological attacks through contamination of food and water supply. To better protect passenger shipping, RAND proposes “improving security measures at ports for passengers and luggage, and implementing rigorous procedures for documenting crew and staff”. RAND further proposes that policymakers should review civil liability standards that currently limit liability for passenger vessel owners, because higher liability “creates private-sector incentives for prevention and mitigation efforts”. Asked for comment by Sea Sentinel, the International Council of Cruise Lines (ICCL) issued a statement asserting that “the report released by RAND Corporation does not reflect extensive security measures taken by our lines”. The ICCL cited 100% screening of all carry-on luggage and checked bags, intensified screening of passengers, restricted access to sensitive vessel and terminal areas, dedicated onboard security teams, Coast Guard-established security zones around vessels and screening of ships’ stores. A cruise ship is comparable to a secure building with a 24-hour security building in which access can be strictly enforced, the ICCL affirmed.
Via Fairplay.co.uk
Link to RAND reportVia Fairplay.co.uk
Etiquetas: cruise market, cruises, politics, security
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on jueves, octubre 26, 2006 at 7:09 a. m..
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