Strengthening Security

The security of trade and other maritime operations is critical to UK interests around the world but can be threatened by international crime, which is increasingly using the same waters for unlawful activity and movement of people and weapons.

Strengthening the security of maritime operations

The Royal Navy is the primary defender of our seas and overseas territories and ensures safe navigation, transport and trade in national and international waters. The security of trade and other maritime operations is critical to UK interests around the world but can be threatened by international crime, which is increasingly using the same waters for unlawful activity and movement of people and weapons.

Maritime Constabulary Operations and Maritime Security Operations are already utilising the full spectrum of tools available to Royal Navy platforms but our platforms are no longer the only targets for hostile action and such activity can be difficult to detect in some busy and congested waters. More effective tools are now needed to strengthen our response and reduce the risks to trade and shipping.

The purpose of this CDE SBRI themed call for proof-of-concept proposals is to reach out to all sectors for new solutions and new technology that can strengthen the security of maritime operations by improving:

•  the determination of unlawful activity at sea by developing breakthroughs in the way that activity, such as piracy or the transportation of weapons, can be detected when unlawful craft and lawful craft, and some lawful activity, look very similar;

•  the response to hostile activity at sea by developing new technology, and other solutions, that can provide a graduated range of non-destructive responses when interdicting craft that are carrying out unlawful activity; and,

•  small arms accuracy at sea by developing new tools, such as effective training aids, that are representative of small arms operations on maritime platforms and can provide the feedback on marksmanship accuracy needed to develop performance.

The competition will launch at an event at on Thursday 24^th January 2013.  Potential applicants are strongly recommended to attend the seminar, registration is necessary via http://www.science.mod.uk/events/event_detail.aspx?eventid=198.

The brief will be available after this event.