Page 58: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (June 2004)

2004 World Yearbook • Maritime Security

JHOC: Eyes Wide Open

By Greg Trauthwein

The Joint Harbor Operation Center (JHOC) — pro- nounced "Jay - Hawk" —v on Naval Station Norfolk is the pinnacle of cooperation between the U.S. Coast

Guard and the U.S. Navy; jointly devised, outfitted, staffed and maintained to protect what is arguably one of the most diverse, sensitive and valuable series of waterfront installations in the nation.

The JHOC established on Naval Station Norfolk in wake of the September 11, 2001 attacks is serving as a sort of prototype for the rest of the nation, with a sim- ilar JHOC under development in San Diego. It is unique as, for the first time it brings together the Navy and the Coast Guard in a joint operation to ensure port security, specifically monitoring military and civilian vessels entering and exiting the lower part of the

Chesapeake Bay.

The 'Red Box on Stilts'

Left to the imagination, one might envision the

JHOC housed in an ultra-sophisticated and secretive bunker; a James Bond-esque facility employing the lat- est technologies to effectively monitor such a vast expanse of waterway and track the vessels transiting them.

While much of the security attention has focused on

New York and Washington for good reason, the

Norfolk area, with a diverse commercial and military mix of potentially attractive terrorist targets, is the quintessential locale for the JHOC experiment. Assets on the lower Chesapeake, which includes the Elizabeth and James Rivers, include: the largest concentration of naval ships and facilities in the world, including Navy

Intelligence Command, and, at any given time, perhaps a half dozen aircraft carriers; the Cove Point LNG facility; three major container ports, in addition to a fourth, recently announced $400 million container port; a growing Cruise Port; as well as a number of bridges and tunnels.

While the new JHOC facility in Norfolk, scheduled to open later this summer, will fit the high-tech mold, the current facilities are, in fact, the polar opposite.

JHOC's home today is an old degaussing tower that had been used to neutralize the magnetic field sur- rounding ships, and prior to September 11 was empty and scheduled to be demolished. Dubbed by some observers as "the red box on stilts" (see photo, right), the center was opened about a month after September 11 and was "basically a box with a pair of binoculars and a space heater ... and the space heater didn't work too well," said Robert T. Nelson, Jr., Lieutenant

Command, U.S. Coast Guard Reserve.

From humble roots JHOC will evolve into a template upon which other such ventures may be based, but

JHOC's original home, dubbed "the red box on stilts," was opened with "a pair of binoculars and a space heater ... and the space heater didn't work too well." A new state-of-the-art JHOC center is due to open later this summer. / l 7. 7 1 I in 1 Reck & Hale) — >

CMTS» Securing Si stems 180 Division Ave

West Sayville, NY 11796, USA

Tel.: 631 -589-2510 or 800-488-7325

Fax: 631-589-2925 www.peckhale.com sales @ peckhale.com

YOUR WORLDWIDE SOURCE FOR QUALITY

CARGO SECURING AND SPECIALIZED

MATERIAL HANDLING PRODUCTS AND SYSTEMS

DEFENSE • Aircraft Carriers • MSC & MARAD Ships • Ammo/Cargo Vessels • Amphibious Crafts

MARITIME • Container Ships • Ro-Ro Vessels • Multi-Purpose Ships • Specialty Vessels

PRODUCTS • Container Lashing • Web & Wire Tiedowns • Hi-Shock Chain Tiedowns • Vehicle Aircraft Tiedowns • Sling & Nets • Camlocks • Corner Castings • Quick Release Hooks

A FULL SERVICE MANUFACTURER

Complete Product Line • Engineering & Design • Worldwide Network • Technical Services • Over 50 Years Experience

Circle 263 on Reader Service Card Circle 247 on Reader Service Card

Rescue Towing

Lightering

Fendering

Salvage

Firefighting

MARINE HAZARD RESPONSE MARINE POLLUTION CONTROI

For more information, call us at: 206-332-8076 or visit: www.marineresponsealliance.com arine Res nee and equipment . and worldwide outtl 58 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News