The Naval Facilities Engineering Service Center (NFESC) at Port Hueneme, CA has licensed its Port Security Barrier Technology to Harbor Offshore, Inc. (HOI), a Ventura CA based marine contractor.
 |
| The NFESC Port Security Barrier in place protecting the Queen Mary 2 in her winter home at Port Everglades, FL. |
Less than two weeks after signing the licensing agreement, HOI had their first customer, Port Everglades, FL. The Port's initial interest was to protect the winter home of the new Queen Mary 2, (the world's largest and most expensive ocean liner) when she arrived from her maiden voyage January 26, 2004.
Kurt Buehler, NFESC's Information Technology Transfer Branch Head stated, "The Navy protected the Queen Mary 2 by escorting her into the port with the guided-missile destroyer USS Carney. Our port security barrier technology, licensed to HOI, will help keep her secure in her winter home port. These barriers can help protect all the valuable assets within a harbor. We want to see these commercialized, and we want to help out the private sector and the commercial world as well," Buehler said. Security officials at the port also hope the barrier system will add a layer of security to the port's three petroleum slips.
The Navy began developing the fence system in response to the bombing of the USS Cole in 2000. Port security has been relying on patrols, vessel patrols, Coast Guard, and commercial security vessels. The Port Security Barrier system is comprised of a floating fence constructed of a synthetic net with a steel base, and is moored to the ground with deadweight anchors. The barriers can have a gate, or multiple gates, that can be opened and closed by security personnel.
 |
| Over 20 miles of the barrier technology is already in use at military facilities. |
From concept to steel prototype, the process for the current barrier design took approximately eight months during 2000 and 2001. NFESC tested the barrier designs in wave tanks at the U.S. Naval Academy, building 1:56 and 1:10 scale models in which the barriers were put through the worst-case environmental conditions. A full-scale test with a 38 foot remote control boat was used, and the data was studied carefully using numerical modeling techniques. The net result was a demonstrated effectiveness against high-speed boats, and proven in-water operational performance with a simple, low cost design.
HOI Project Manager, Mark Wood, said the barrier systems are specially designed for each location. The fence rises eight feet above the water surface. "They're like big erector sets," Wood said. More than 20 miles of barrier have already been installed at military facilities around the world, and 15 more sites are planned for the next two years.
HOI will continue to modify and improve the barriers, which might include different pontoons or latching mechanisms. HOI will share their findings with the Navy so that everyone will end up with a better port barrier system.
“The license signing was held in Washington, D.C., to add formality and visibility to the event,” Buehler said. "We wanted to make Washington, D.C. folks aware of the work and engineering that we're doing out here." he said.
Contact:
Kurt Buehler, NFESC 805-982-4897 or
Harbor Offshore Inc. 805-639-2205