U. S. Maritime Border Security — All Trust No Verify
Can this gaping hole big enough for boats to sail through be plugged?
President Reagan’s favorite Russian saying regarding nuclear arms-control is — doveryai, no proveryai, “trust, but verify.” We could use some of his wisdom along our maritime borders. We’re trusting that all mariners aboard small boats entering the country are law-abiding citizens. Is it wise to trust but not verify?
Operators of small pleasure craft on international voyages arriving in the United States are required to report their entrance immediately to U. S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as per 19 CFR 4.2. In July 2011, CBP developed the Small Vessel Reporting System to better track small boats arriving from foreign locations and deployed this system to eight field locations. Unfortunately this option, as well as all small vessel arrival reporting programs, is based on a self-reporting system where mariners phone in their arrivals to CBP to comply with 19 USC 1433. Law abiding citizens are likely to comply with these requirements but criminals and terrorists would simply forgo checking in with CBP and enter the country illegally. Amitai Etzioni highlights this gap in security and the likelihood that many small vessels arriving into the United States go unchecked by failing to comply with the reporting process. It is also possible for a mariner to make landfall, moor, offload contraband or personnel, and then contact CBP for inspection. A system to detect, determine intent, and interdict small vessels crossing our maritime borders is needed.
Automatic Identification System (AIS) is a tracking system used on ships and by vessel traffic services (VTS) for identifying and tracking vessels by electronically exchanging data with other nearby ships and AIS base stations. Recently satellites have been fitted with special AIS receivers that are capable of managing a large number of signals. AIS combines a VHF transceiver with a positioning system, most often a GPS receiver, with other electronic navigation sensors, such as a gyrocompass or rate of turn indicator. An AIS-equipped system on board a ship presents the information of nearby vessels via a variety of information display systems; standalone AIS transceivers, radar, or integrated charting system. AIS information supplements marine radar, which continues to be the primary method of collision avoidance in the maritime arena.
There are several versions of AIS equipment; Class A, Class B, and Class B receive only. Class B AIS have lower transmit power than Class A and refresh information at a slower rate. AIS was originally configured to transmit data via VHF radio frequencies and therefore limited to line of sight distances based on the height of VHF radio antennas. Information provided by AIS equipment, includes vessel identification, position, course, speed as well as other parameters like destination, estimated time of arrival, and rate of turn. Vessels fitted with AIS transceivers and transponders can be tracked by AIS base stations located along the coast. Numerous web sites provide real time data on maritime traffic in the area by collecting and displaying the AIS information received. Commercial AIS systems using VHF radio coverage can provide data well offshore depending on the height of the vessel and shore based antennas and transmit power as shown by the below screen shot of AIS tracks off of central California.
A satellite based system can provide world wide coverage. The AIS Identifier shown below is the Advanced Class B Satellite Enabled AIS (ABSEA) alongside a display of satellite based AIS data.
Inexpensive AIS technology (some class B AIS transponders are now less than $500) can assist in improving border security and verify movements of small boats as they transit the border. AIS provides a cost effective method to verify when mariners enter the country. When vessels complete their Small Vessel Reporting documents they can link their entry request with their AIS and CPB can see these vessels as they approach and cross the border. This gives CPB the option to board the vessel while underway or meet them as they moor up. Radar systems currently monitoring the maritime borders can alert authorities when vessels enter U.S. waters that are not transmitting AIS. These vessels can be intercepted and boarded.
In the past 10 years, India, Mexico, China, Turkey, South Korea, Singapore, United Kingdom, and the European Union have implemented new AIS regulations to improve their maritime domain awareness. In 2012 Xanatos Marine Ltd of Canada won a $4.9-million contract from the U.S. Department of State to provide 19,000 AIS transmit-only transponders to Mexico. The Mexican Maritime Authority recently issued a directive making AIS transmitting devices mandatory on any small vessel in Mexican waters. It’s ironic that we’re spending our tax dollars to help secure Mexico but continue to leave our maritime borders wide open.
It’s time to trust and verify.
