Much of the focus on international maritime security recently has been on containing the piracy problem. However, maritime companies and crew members must also be aware of the increasing threat from terrorist groups. According to the federal administration, there is reason to be concerned that terrorist groups like Al Qaeda may begin to turn their attention more strongly to international shipping.
Intelligence gathered from the property in Pakistan where Osama bin Laden was living seems to indicate a growing interest in attacks on maritime vessels, especially oil tankers. The Associated Press has managed to obtain confidential warnings by the Homeland Security Department and the FBI that Al Qaeda has been looking at information about the size and construction of oil tankers. Al Qaeda’s research has found that blowing up these vessels from the inside was the right way to destroy them.
This should not be taken to mean that a terror attack on any vessel is imminent or expected in the future. However, maritime lawyers believe that there is reason enough for the international shipping industry to begin taking the threat seriously. The warning has already been sent to oil and gas industries as well as local and state law enforcement agencies. As of now, the Department of Homeland Security is not planning on raising the terrorist threat level.
The maritime industry is already reeling under the onslaught of piracy. In spite of a series of measures, we have hardly been able to contain the problem of piracy, especially along the Horn of Africa. There have been no major maritime terror attacks as yet, but that is no reason for us to be complacent. The industry needs to begin taking other initiatives to reduce the threat of terror attacks, including greater data sharing in the industry, enhanced security and antiterrorism training of crew members.
