WARNING: This is Version 1 of my old archive, so Photos will NOT work and many links will NOT work. But you can find articles by searching on the Titles. There is a lot of information in this archive. Use the SEARCH BAR at the top right. Prior to December 2012; I was a pro-Christian type of Conservative. I was unaware of the mass of Jewish lies in history, especially the lies regarding WW2 and Hitler. So in here you will find pro-Jewish and pro-Israel material. I was definitely WRONG about the Boeremag and Janusz Walus. They were for real.
Original Post Date: 2010-04-05 Time: 13:00:02 Posted By: News Poster
By Pauline Wangui
Nairobi – The technology available, the increased sophistication of their methods of attack, and the movement toward pirate syndicates are strong indicators that this crime will continue to grow in frequency and violence.
Infusion of new technologies into maritime programmes can bring an end to piracy.
Technology can play an important role in the battle against piracy.
Technology plays a vital role in finding solutions or preventing problems from occurring (for example, advance surveillance can prevent terrorist or piracy attacks) and for implementing policy-related decisions.
There have been more than 30 reported attacks in Somalia this year, according to the International Maritime Bureau.
ShipLoc
Recently, the IMB worked together with satellite tracking system operators and produced a satellite tracking system called ShipLoc.
The ShipLoc system is based on a small device that regularly reports to ship owners the exact position of their ships through a satellite network.
If a ship is hijacked, the IMB piracy reporting centre, with authorisation from the ship owner, can access the ship’s data.
IMB then alerts the appropriate law enforcement agency that takes the necessary action.
Shiploc uses a hidden personal computer aboard the ship to monitor position by satellite 24 hours a day.
Should anyone breach a fibre optic network stretched around the vessel’s perimeter, an automatic signal is provided both to the ship’s crew and authorities.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs)
AUVs are sometimes also called Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUV) had a significant progress in the past few years.
Scientists and researchers came out with breakthrough designs and applications that helped maritime missions.
For example, AUVs assisted in the New Orleans Katrina Hurricane rescue efforts.
Researchers at the Massachussets Institute of Technology have been working on developing a group of robots working together for undersea exploration, search and rescue operations.
This would help also to pre-sweep for undersea mines in disputed areas.
The scientists are fitting the kayaks with onboard computers, communication systems, propulsion and steering to create Surface Crafts for Oceanographic and Underwater Testing (SCOUT).
Such software and hardware capability will help in development of AUVs further.
Similarly, MIT Marine Lab researchers have developed a robotic fish using polymer muscles and skeletal actuators, which propels the AUV by an action similar to fish wagging its tail.
Further advancement in this technology would be development of self-recharging AUVs through solar power and ocean current.
The AUVs would be deployed more and more for mine-sweeping and missions in terrorist suspect areas.
ICT would also play a role in monitoring of hyperactive volcano vents, thus announcing tsunamis in advance.
Physical Oceanographic Real-time System (PORTS)
PORTS is a program of the National Ocean Service of the US that supports safe and cost-efficient navigation by providing shipmasters with accurate real-time information required to avoid groundings and collisions.
PORTS includes centralised data acquisition and dissemination systems that provide real-time water levels, currents, and other oceanographic and meteorological data from bays and harbours to maritime issues, including telephonic voice response and internet.
Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC)
Electronic Navigational Charts (ENC) contains suitable data for aiding the marine navigation.
ENCs are intended for use in Electronic Charting System (ECS) and Electronic Chart Display and Information System (ECDIS).
Marine navigation, route planning, and GIS applications are just some the uses for the data as a background display.
These are used in several Vessel Traffic Systems (VTS) to monitor ship movements in rivers, harbor, and bays in the U.S.
A few years ago, the US Navy Submarines incorporated Electronic Navigational Charts into their Voyage Navigation Systems.
The scientists are working on using Electronic Navigational Chart data structure and the standard for usage in classified data files
Technologies of impact
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technologies may be extended to individual containers or groups of containers and other cargo to enable monitoring up to the delivery point by individual trading groups or transport agencies.
Pauline Wangui is an ICT and telecom strategy analyst.
Original Source: 
Original date published: 5 April 2010
Source: http://allafrica.com/stories/201004050615.html?viewall=1