Why do we need Maritime Security? Maritime Surveillance There has been an increased need for Maritime security in recent times, as the risk of intentional damage on water vessels, water adjacent facilities (barge fleeting facilities, container terminals, oil storage facilities, passenger vessel terminals) and ports has become more apparent. Maritime security concerns itself with averting any threats to the aforementioned that may come about due to subversive tactics, terrorist attacks, or sabotage. Recent attacks on marine vessels, trade centres, passenger vessels, trade vessels, and ports have heightened the need for maritime security; keeping in mind, that increased globalization has placed great importance on the world's waters. Emphasis is also placed on preventing stowaways as well as drug and weapons smuggling. In the recent past piracy has become a major problem; with 231 piracy attacks in 2011 and 106 in the first 6 months of 2013. At any given time there are 12 vessels being held captive with several hundred seafarers held hostage. Keeping in mind that the UK is an island, the nation is dependent on the secure passage of food, energy and manufactured products through British Ports. Indeed, close to eighty per cent of the world's trade is carried out through international shipping as well as 92% of British trade - 582 million tons of cargo and 5.38 million containers each year. Insecurity on British waters, or water channels carrying British trade or British vessels is therefore of major concern. In particular, The UK has had a well-established national maritime strategy since the 1990s. In 1948, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) was established in Geneva as a specialized agency of the United Nations, whose focus is developing and maintaining a comprehensive regulatory framework for shipping and today is concerned with several issues such as Maritime security. Most notable is the adoption of the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) code by the IMO in 2004 as a method of combating threats to ships, ports, and government agencies. It places responsibility on governments, shipping companies, shipboard personnel, and port/facility personnel to "detect security threats and take preventative measures against security incidents affecting ships or port facilities used in international trade." This code in conjunction with Maritime surveillance - being aware at all times of what is happening over, on and under the surface of surrounding seas and coastal areas - and the work of the Shipping Defence Advisory Committee is currently protecting the UK's waters. However, there are many flaws in the current Maritime security strategies that have left many countries including the UK susceptible to attack; namely the fact that there is no joint maritime surveillance committee, leading to duplication of resources as well as the fact that unshared information leaves room for attack. In conclusion, Maritime security is unequivocally necessary to ensure that World trade is consistent and that the world's waters are safe for any water vessel. Without Maritime surveillance government agencies would be unable to detect threats to their ports, vessels and facilities, and without the appropriate maritime strategies, the same agencies would be unable to prevent any damage to the said.
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