February 9, 2016 – CTTSO
“… We stand united with people around the world who have been targeted by terrorists — from a school in Pakistan to the streets of Paris. We will continue to hunt down terrorists and dismantle their networks…” — President Barrack Obama, State of the Union Address, Jan 20, 2015
Next Generation Port Security Barrier
Waterside security is one of the Chief of Naval Operations’ priorities for force protection. The current Port Security Barrier (PSB) is part of a class of barriers referred to as net-capture or Type I barriers. Fleet experience with this PSB design has yielded recommendations for a next generation Type II barrier. Through CTTSO, the Navy is testing and evaluating a commercial-off-the-shelf water barrier system manufactured by Halo Arabia that provides increased protection against small boat attacks in a reduced footprint and at a lower lifecycle cost.
HALO system configurations and mooring plans can be tailored to the force protection goals of the customer. Configurations typically include a combination of a static double-wall barrier and a remotely operated gate and barrier.
A HALO system consisting of a 300-foot Guardian(tm) gate attached to two Sentry(tm) support platforms is undergoing a long-term, operational and environmental test and evaluation at Norfolk Naval Station, Virginia. Over an eight-month period spanning fall and winter weather conditions, testing will include monthly evaluations of: semi-automated gate opening and closing capability; system resilience, structural integrity, and connection strength; and, effects of the natural environment, waves, and currents on HALO system components. Data collection from this test will inform a major Navy acquisition decision on Type II barriers for maritime force protection of critical assets at domestic and overseas bases.