Connecting the dots or standing in front of a fire hose
The United States Government defines maritime domain awareness (MDA) as an effective understanding of anything associated with the global maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of the United States. The National Plan to Achieve Maritime Domain Awareness provides for the persistent monitoring (in the global maritime domain) of vessels and craft, cargo, vessel crews and passengers, and all identified areas of interest. The collected information is fused, analyzed, and disseminated to decision makers. In addition to the national intelligence community, the principal agencies involved in the MDA program are the Department of Homeland Security (USCG and CBP) and the Department of Defense (US Navy). The Coast Guard collects advance notices of arrival from ships planning to call in US ports and selectively boards ships upon arrival. It also conducts surveys of foreign ports to determine the level of security in those ports. Customs and Border Protection is focused on the persons and cargoes. For many cargoes, carriers are required to notify CBP 24 hours prior to loading the cargo in a foreign port, giving the agency an opportunity to conduct a quick risk analysis. Additional information must be provided while the ship is en route and even more information is required upon arrival in the US port, where the cargo may be subjected to physical inspection. Under a pilot program in three foreign ports, containerized cargo is scanned for nuclear and radiological material. While some would like to have the scanning process expanded to all containerized cargo from all foreign ports, the logistical, technological, fiscal, and political hurdles are formidable. The agencies operate numerous sensors, including but not limited to radar, LRIT, and AIS to collect additional information. There is an argument that so much information is being collected that it is virtually impossible to identify and act on potential threats. The countering argument is that collection of this data serves as a deterrent to potential terrorists. MDA is an important mission, but discipline must be exercised to limit assembly of information to what is meaningful, not collecting data merely because it is available.