Marine transportation is a critical link in international trade and the global economy. Many sources estimate that 80 percent of global trade by volume and 70 percent by value are transported by sea and arrive at ports around the world. The resilience of the port and maritime domains, therefore, are critical to the stability of the global economy and the security of our nation.
With a heritage of operational research and experimentation for the Navy, the Center for Threat Management conducts several sustained programs that focus on domain awareness, security of critical waterside and offshore facilities, and conducting specialized operations in the maritime environment.
Coastal Trident Regional Port and Maritime Security Program
Coastal Trident is an annual program designed to advance the state of the art in addressing potential threats to the U.S. Marine Transportation System through scenario-based education, field experimentation, and exercise activities. The program is conducted in partnership with public and private sector stakeholders in port and maritime operations, security, and emergency management in order to reinforce strategic partnerships, explore developing and transitional technologies, evaluate capabilities, and identify areas for improvement in port and maritime areas of operation.
Offshore Platform Security Threat Awareness and Response Program
OPSTAR is a sustained initiative to explore the homeland security, homeland defense, emergency response, and emergency management issues posed by threats to offshore oil and gas platforms. The program is conducted in partnership with public and private sector stakeholders in critical infrastructure, energy security, maritime operations, and emergency management in order to familiarize personnel with the unique operating environment aboard offshore facilities and evaluate the capabilities of local and regional agencies to support a federal response to an offshore incident.
June 2015 off the coast of Ventura, California
Personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Station Channel Islands Harbor conduct maritime pursuit and boarding operations in response to a simulated non-compliant vessel during the Coastal Trident 2015 Regional Port and Maritime Security Program.
Photo Credit: Brendan Applegate, Center for Asymmetric Warfare
June 2014 off the coast of San Pedro, California
Personnel from the U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Safety and Security Team-San Diego conduct maritime tactical operations aboard M/V ATLS in response to a simulated radiological terrorism threat during the Coastal Trident 2014 Regional Port and Maritime Security Program.
Photo Credit: Quoc Ha, Q Concepts Design and Photography
November 2013 off the coast of Ventura, California
An adaptive force package consisting of forces from the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S. Border Patrol converges on Platform Grace in response to a simulated terrorist threat during the 2013 Offshore Platform Security Threat Awareness and Response Program.
Photo Credit: U.S. Navy, Combat Camera Pacific
June 2014 off the coast of San Pedro, California
An aircraft operated by SciFly provides real-time aerial surveillance data of M/V ATLS in support of a combined maritime tactical response by U.S Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and U.S Border Patrol to a simulated radiological terrorism threat during the Coastal Trident 2014 Regional Port and Maritime Security Program.
Photo Credit: Eddie Kisfaludy, SciFly
Aerial Missions Unit
Vulnerability Assessment
Cyber Threat Awareness and Consequence Management
Technology Experimentation and Implementation
If you would like to contact us regarding research opportunities, current and upcoming programs, or general information, we welcome your inquiries.