Maritime Port and Anti-Terrorism Data Gateway With Ingress And Egress Control

Abstract

A marine port monitoring system including a plurality of inspection apparatus, either fixed, mobile, wired or wireless for intercepting data on and of vessels entering or leaving a port or canal. The system includes sensors placed in a shipping channel for examination of a hull of a passing vessel to detect externally mounted weapons, explosives or contraband and, the recording of the vessels acoustical signature for purpose of identification and mechanical validation and verification. The inspection apparatus includes devices for the removing of cargo containers from vessels, non-intrusive inspection of containers and isolating containers having suspect cargo. The apparatus includes explosive containment including a separable containment system for protecting the apparatus. The system includes a remote buoy reporting the arrival and departures of vessels at a predetermined distance from said apparatus for maritime domain awareness and protection of said apparatus.

1 . A maritime port inspection system comprising of:
 at least one structure positioned in a waterway adjacent an entrance or exit to a marine port or canal, for the prevention of terrorism by means of both manned and unmanned sensors:   at least one special purpose vessel designed to rapidly capture and attach, to a suspect vessel to remove a container or cargo being deemed as terrorist materials, devices or materials utilized for the disruption of normal port or canal activities;   at least one deep water buoy designed to be placed adjacent to known or suggested maritime traffic and vessel identification for the prevention of terrorism;   the position of said structure to be any where from the entrance or exit of a marine port or canal out to 15 nautical miles inclusive of the published entryway or exit to the port or canal channel;   the structure includes a positioning system for maintaining a desired position of the structure;   a plurality of under water and above water sensors placed adjacent to and across a shipping channel into or out of a marine port or canal, each of the sensors providing data indicative of terrorists activities, devices for disruption of maritime traffic, hull mounted unauthorized anomalies, or environment evidence contrary to clean waterways;   a plurality of RF detection devices placed adjacent to and across a shipping channel into or out of a marine port or canal, each utilized to detect and collect data for presentation to an operator;   inspection equipment mounted on said vessel and adapted for non-intrusive inspection of cargo continers; and   lifting apparatus on said vessel for removing cargo containers from vessel prior to entrance or after leaving a port or canal for inspection by said inspection equipment; and   a containment structure for the storage, safing and transportation of suspect container; as well as the submergence of suspect container in the event that the container cannot be sated.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1  and including a semi-submersible pontoon ballast system including areas for working and laboratories attached to said structure for controlling a floating height of said structure in the waterway. 
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2  and including a current damping system coupled to said ballast system for compensating of ocean currents and swells. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein the said structure is a multilevel structure. 
   
   
       5 . The system of  claim 4  and including a second structure positioned on an opposite side of the shipping channel from at least one structure. 
   
   
       6 . The system of  claim 5  and including the distance from the entrance or exit from said port or canal up to and including 15 nautical miles from said entrance or exit. 
   
   
       7 . The system of  claim 6  and including the abilities to detect and report on all data gathered at said point for the prevention of terrorism. 
   
   
       8 . Tire system of  claim 7  and including the abilities to detect and report on all data gathered at said point for port or canal entrances or exits for security applications. 
   
   
       9 . The system of  claim 8  and including the abilities to detect and report on all data gathered at said point for commercial applications and distribution.