Maritime Security Concerns Prompt GAO to Refocus Attention on Federal Efforts Underway

Maritime Security: Federal Efforts Needed to Address Challenges in Preventing and Responding to Terrorist Attacks on Energy Commodity Tankers (GAO-08-141) is available for MarEx readers to download and view.

The Government Accounting Office and its Director, Maritime Security Issues, has resent its report from last year which deals with the security of oil tankers. Last week’s pirate hi-jacking of a German LPG tanker off the Gulf of Aden and other high-profile terror / piracy events have heightened awareness at all levels of government and private industry. The report, entitled ”Maritime Security: Federal Efforts Needed to Address Challenges in Preventing and Responding to Terrorist Attacks on Energy Commodity Tankers (GAO-08-141), is the public version of a classified report.

While that report was mainly focused on terrorists (versus pirates), many of the sections are relevant. Specifically, pp. 11-19 provides background on tankers and commodities and sea routes; pp. 19-23 on vulnerabilities; pp. 23-28 covers types of potential attacks; pp. 36-42 covers protective measures (with pp. 40-42 having some specifics on Somali pirates and the Gulf of Aden); and pp. 89 providing an appendix on high-profile attacks against oil tankers. Stephen L. Caldwell, Director, Maritime Security Issues in the Homeland Security and Justice Team (U.S. Government Accountability Office) calls it a “must read” document.


Contact the GAO’s Caldwell at: (202) 512-9610