AMSC annual report details challenges, suggestions, accomplishments, and best practices of 2020
Updated: Feb 17, 2022
There are 43 Area Maritime Security Committees (AMSC) around the country that include participants from government partners as well as industry stakeholders with a common goal of ensuring the preservation of a secure and resilient Marine Transportation System.
The recently released annual report details the challenges, suggestions, accomplishments, and best practices of 2020. This report is an important tool that can be used to develop strategies to help address common issues and emerging threats.
Download the full report below or read on for key takeaways.
2020 AMSC Consolidated Report
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KEY TAKEAWAYS
CHALLENGES:
Virtual meetings present a higher security risk compared to in-person meetings, especially when discussing sensitive information.
Cybersecurity poses a significant threat to the Marine Transportation System (MTS). This is exacerbated by the fact that it is often coupled with a lack of cyber expertise amongst facility and vessel operators. There is a lot of information available on how to properly ensure a secure cyber environment, but it is often highly technical and difficult to translate into actionable efforts.
There is a lack of jurisdictional clarity, policy/guidance, and enforcement options for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), or drones, flying in restricted air space above maritime infrastructures. Similar challenges apply to newly observed "unmanned mini self-propelled semi-submersible vessels".
SUGGESTIONS:
There is a desire to see more definitive guidance on cybersecurity, including the inclusion of cyber-related Transportation Security Incidents (TSI) in Area Maritime Security Plans (AMSP)
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