A decision support system for the promotion of security in shipping

TLDR

Shipping is a high‑risk target for organized crime and terrorism, facilitating illicit transport and posing severe threats to life, property, and the environment, yet the industry still lags in implementing adequate security measures. This paper proposes and presents a decision support system to promote security in shipping. The DSS is a security‑management tool that leverages information and communication technologies to support implementation of the ISPS Code and the development and maintenance of associated security plans.

Abstract

Shows transportation appears to be a target and/or means of achieving the illegal pursuits of organised crime and terrorism. Among transportation modes, shipping presents the highest security risk since, on the one hand, it is the main facilitator of international trade (within this context it inevitably serves the illegal transportation of people, drugs and arms) and, on the other hand, a terrorism‐targeted ship, whether a passenger or cargo carrier, poses a major threat in terms of loss of human life and property, as well as the threat of damage to the environment. Despite efforts to address the issues of maritime security, the shipping industry still presents a sizeable deficit in implementing security measures. Furthermore, when global events, such as the Athens 2004 Summer Olympics, are organised in coastal locations where extensive shipping activity is concentrated, maritime security becomes a particularly critical issue. The development of a decision support system (DSS) for the promotion of security in shipping is proposed and presented. The DSS is basically a security management tool utilising the capabilities of information and communication technologies, in order to provide support towards the general implementation of the International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) Code, and the development as well as maintenance of the associated security plans.