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  1. Home
  2. Topics
  3. Science and Technology
  4. Research & Development
  5. Border Security
  6. Maritime Safety and Security

Maritime Safety and Security

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Maritime Safety Icon

The Science and Technology Directorate’s (S&T) Maritime Safety and Security Program develops and transitions technical capabilities that enhance U.S. maritime border security by safeguarding lawful trade and travel, and helps to prevent illegal use of the maritime environment to transport illicit goods or people.

Projects and Activities

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Port and Coastal Surveillance vessel on a body of water

Port & Coastal Surveillance

  • Dark Vessel Detection
  • USCG – S&T Innovation Center
  • Maritime Domain Awareness Sensors
  • Maritime Unmanned Systems Technology
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coastal helicopter flying by glaicer

Remote Maritime Technologies

  • Datahub - Maritime
  • Space Based Technologies
  • Search and Rescue Devices
  • Underway Cutter Connectivity
  • Distress Alerting in Remote Maritime Environments
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Chart of Integrated Multi Domain Enterprise

Integrated Multi-Domain Enterprise

  • Integrated Multi-Domain Enterprise
  • Border and Coastal Information Services
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large ship on a large body of water

Port & Waterway Resiliency

  • Waterways Analysis and Management Systems
  • River Information Systems
  • Waterway Harmonization
  • Port Resiliency and Security Testbed

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Unmanned maritime systems

Maritime Unmanned Systems Technology

DHS performed testing on unmanned vessels to initiate accelerated sensor research on unmanned systems. The vessels successfully navigated autonomously, conducted subsurface operations, operated effectively for long periods using only wind and solar power, and showed potential as sensor platforms to detect threats.

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Iceberg

TITANIC

The unclassified prototype TITANIC architecture was delivered and implemented for International Ice Patrol (IIP), enabling integration of satellite-based iceberg reconnaissance into the IIP workflow.

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Integrated map

Integrated Multi-Domain Enterprise

The Management Component Acquisition Executive and the Management Acquisition Review Board  approved Integrated Multi-Domain Enterprise (IMDE) ADE-1 and the program will move forward as a Level 3 Information Technology Acquisition Program of Record with DHS OPS as sponsor. IMDE establishes a core information sharing architecture to enable DHS to meet mission-critical information sharing, domain awareness, and multi-agency operational coordination needs.

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USCG Cutter

Waterway Analysis and Management Systems

Completed Module 2 of the Waterway Analysis and Management Systems (WAMS) project, enabling integration of key waterway performance indicators into U.S. Coast Guard Aids to Navigation Information System (ATONIS), Integrated Aids to Navigation Information System (I-ATONIS), and U.S. Aids to Navigation Information Management System (USAIMS) applications.

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Datahub (Kestrel)

Obtained Customs and Border Protection (CBP) authority to operate and completed integration with the CBP Air Marine Operations Surveillance System (AMOSS) Operational environment, allowing analytics and predictive threat models to be delivered, which will improve decision times and provide predicted landing locations to increase interdiction rates.

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Coast Guard Cutter

Dark Vessel Detection

The critical design review was completed for the Maritime Approaches Surveillance Tower (MAST), an integrated maritime detection capability, which when combined with COTS sensors, will create a “defense in depth” for one of the most vulnerable areas of our maritime borders—Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands.

 

Centers of Excellence 

Learn more about our R&D mission and discover how you can Work with S&T to help strengthen the nation's homeland security.

Last Updated: 05/26/2023
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