Category: Maritime

In advance of formal technology transition, DARPA’s SIGMA+ program concluded a three-week capstone event with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (Port Authority) this past summer, demonstrating through realistic exercise scenarios the ability to detect a wide spectrum of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) threats. The July exercises, which spanned all 15 Port Authority commands, culminated a five-year effort to develop and deploy an automated, high-performance, networked and mobile system that provides continuous city-scale monitoring of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) threats.

Building on the successful DARPA-Port Authority engagement during the preceding SIGMA program — which focused on radiological and nuclear threat detection — SIGMA+ expanded to include development of advanced chemical, biological, and explosive sensors, integrated vehicle designs, real-time monitoring networks, and advanced analytics for threat detection and interdiction. The SIGMA+ networked systems approach leverages all these technologies to provide a comprehensive ability for law enforcement and first responders to quickly detect, localize, and track threats with easy-to-interpret results to support situational awareness and decision making.

“The partnership with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey over the past seven years on SIGMA and SIGMA+ has been critical to advancing state-of-art capabilities to detect and deter a full range of CBRNE threats,” said Mark Wrobel, who managed the program for DARPA’s Defense Sciences Office. “This outstanding cooperation enabled DARPA to test cutting-edge technology in the nation’s largest metropolitan region, which significantly sped up the transition from R&D to operational use.”

The SIGMA+ sensor suite was integrated into a small fleet of Port Authority vehicles to enable mobile monitoring throughout New York City and northern New Jersey. The exercises simulated various threat scenarios that could pose a risk to high-value sites, key infrastructure, or local populations. The drills aided in familiarizing officers with system capabilities and features, development of tactics, techniques and procedures, and preparation to operationalize the capabilities later this fall. In addition to the exercises, federal and state homeland security stakeholders were able to view the integrated CBRNE detection vehicles and engage with DARPA and the Port Authority on how SIGMA+ advanced sensor systems could support their mission needs. Final efforts of the SIGMA+ program will include formal transition of the integrated sensor platforms to the Port Authority and other stakeholders to provide a long-term operational capability for threat detection beyond SIGMA+.

“Protecting the public from weapons of mass destruction is of critical importance, which is why we partner with DARPA to test and deploy cutting-edge detection tools,” said Port Authority Chief Security Officer Greg Ehrie. “These tools provide an enhanced layer of vigilance to keep the millions of people who use and work at our facilities safe.”

The crew of the Coast Guard Cutter Waesche offloaded about 18,219 pounds of cocaine, with an estimated street value of $239 million, in November in San Diego.

The offload is a result of six separate suspected drug smuggling vessel interdictions off the coasts of Mexico and Central and South America by the Coast Guard Cutters Waesche and Active.

The biggest of the six interdictions was the most recent, occurring Nov. 20, which was an interdiction of a self-propelled semi-submersible (SPSS) carrying more than 5,500 pounds of cocaine. The interdiction of the SPSS was the first in the Eastern Pacific since 2020.

“All four of our interdictions on this patrol are crucial to the Coast Guard’s efforts to keep illicit drugs off the streets, but our last interdiction of a semi-submersible vessel was noteworthy since it was the first semi-submersible interdicted in the Eastern Pacific in over three years,” said Capt. Robert Mohr, commanding officer of the Waesche. “I am extremely impressed with the crew’s dedication throughout this dynamic patrol. They overcame multiple challenges with collective hard work, ingenuity, and positive attitudes to keep us in pursuit of these cartels and their dangerous drugs. A successful patrol like this one is rewarding and leads to better retention and recruiting efforts because everybody feels a sense of accomplishment.”

Multiple U.S. agencies, including the Departments of Defense, Justice, and Homeland Security, collaborate in the effort to combat transnational organized crime. The Coast Guard, Navy, Customs and Border Protection, FBI, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, along with allied and international partner agencies, all play a role in counternarcotic operations. The fight against drug cartels in the Eastern Pacific Ocean requires unity of effort in all phases, from detection and monitoring to interdictions and criminal prosecutions.

“The significance of keeping this much cocaine from reaching our shores and streets is, no doubt, life changing. Without these nine tons of cocaine on American streets, fewer people will have access to this toxic poison, and hundreds of millions of dollars will not make it into cartel coffers,” said U.S. Attorney Tara McGrath. “The crew of the Waesche and the entire U.S. Coast Guard is to be commended for protecting our nation from the devastation, violence and addiction that cocaine brings to our communities.”

The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star and crew departed Seattle, Wednesday, and are scheduled to transit to Antarctica in support of Operation Deep Freeze.

Operation Deep Freeze (ODF) is an annual joint military mission to resupply the United States Antarctic stations in support of the National Science Foundation (NSF), the lead agency for the United States Antarctic Program (USAP). This marks the 27th year for the Polar Star to render support.

Each year, the Polar Star crew breaks a navigable channel through ice, allowing fuel and supply ships to reach McMurdo Station, which is the largest Antarctic station and the logistics hub of the USAP.

“Operation Deep Freeze is a unique and important mission that Coast Guard Cutter Polar Star undertakes each year,” said Capt. Keith Ropella, Polar Star’s commanding officer. “This mission requires year-round effort from the crew to prepare this 47-year-old cutter for the 20,000 nautical mile round trip and extreme environmental conditions we will face. We have an incredible and dedicated team; I couldn’t be more excited or more proud to make this journey with them.”

The U.S. Coast Guard is recapitalizing its polar icebreaker fleet to ensure continued access to the polar regions and to protect the country’s economic, environmental, and national security interests. Each year, the crew is asked to put forth an immense amount of time and effort to prepare the cutter for their annual deployment in support of ODF. The Polar Star completed the third of five planned phases of the service life extension project (SLEP), costing $15.6 million over a 132-day maintenance period.

“The U.S. Coast Guard is pleased to continue partnering with the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Antarctic Program to enable a durable U.S. presence in Antarctica and across the Southern Ocean,” said Vice Adm. Andrew Tiongson, Pacific Area commander. “Our commitment to the Antarctic region is unwavering, and we have been pleased to increase our maritime cooperation with like-minded members of the Antarctic Treaty, as well as investing in new technologies and vessels to ensure our presence is enduring.”

Joint Task Force-Support Forces Antarctica, provides Department of Defense support to the NSF and the USAP through ODF. Every year, a joint and total force team works together to complete a successful ODF season. Active, Guard, Reserve service members from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy work together to forge a strong JTF-SFA that continues the proud tradition of U.S. military support to the USAP. The U.S. Coast Guard provides direct logistical support to the NSF and maintains a regional presence that preserves Antarctica as a scientific refuge.

A ship transiting the Suez canal became disable and smashed into a bridge that goes over the waterway. Authorities say that traffic through the canal was not disrupted and four tugboats were dispatched to assist. The tugboats were able to move the cargo ship which was traveling from Singapore to the Netherlands.

About 400 Rohingya Muslims are believed to be aboard two boats in the Andaman Sea. Reports say they do not have adequate supplies and could die if they are not rescued soon. The number of refugees fleeing from Bangladesh refugee camps is rising since last year. Some reports say there have been food supply cuts and increased gang violence in the camps, leading to the exodus.

“There are about 400 children, women and men looking death in the eye if there are no moves to dave these desperate souls,” said Babar Baloch, a Bangkok-based U. N. regional spokesperson.

Charles River Analytics announced that its Awarion Autonomous Lookout System was selected as a groundbreaking innovation by Popular Science. Awarion, which is currently being deployed to assist marine mammal protection measures during offshore wind farm construction, was named a Popular Science 2023 “Best of What’s New” award winner in the engineering category.

Each year, Popular Science reviews thousands of new products and innovations. To win a “Best of What’s New” award, a product or technology must represent a significant step forward in its category.

Awarion, an artificial intelligence and computer-vision system that complements and supports human lookouts and marine radar systems, caught the attention of Popular Science editors due to the novel application of AI and computer vision to help advance visual monitoring capabilities designed to protect marine mammals during offshore wind development.

Awarion uses electro-optical and infrared video to detect, analyze, and report on the presence of whales, ships, and other objects, including fishing buoys and equipment, at long distances. The system is being tested on Vineyard Wind 1, the United States’ first commercial-scale offshore wind project located 15 miles off the coast of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.

“Since 1988, Popular Science has proudly celebrated the groundbreaking innovations changing our world,” said Annie Colbert, technology editor-in-chief. “The Best of What’s New Awards showcase the year’s radical ideas that are improving our everyday lives and our futures.”

Ross Eaton, principal scientist and director of marine systems at Charles River Analytics, noted that the award is an exciting win for the Awarion team. “It is incredibly rewarding to develop technology that can play an important role in conservation, climate change mitigation, and marine safety,” he said. “To have that work acknowledged by Popular Science is just outstanding. I couldn’t be more proud of our entire team.”

Richard Wronski, division vice president at Charles River Analytics, added that Vineyard Wind shares in the win. “Vineyard Wind deserves recognition for deploying cutting-edge technology that can benefit the offshore wind industry and the broader shipping industry as a whole,” Wronski said. “They led the way in realizing Awarion’s potential as a support for human lookouts in the protection of marine mammals.”

A cargo ship sank off the coast of Greece near the island of Lesbos Sunday, November 26. One person was rescued, one body was recovered but twelve crewmembers were still missing according to Greek authorities. The ship was en route from Alexandria, Egypt to Istanbul with a 6000 ton load of salt.

The ship reported mechanical issues Sunday morning and later sent a distress signal. A group of merchant ships, helicopters and a Greek navy ship were searching for the crew.

The dead crew member was retrieved Sunday afternoon and was taken to Lesbos. The body arrived but has not been identified, a coast guard spokeswoman told The Associated Press.