Security Threats to the Maritime Community

Natural threats need to be identified and calculated into the impact on the security of maritime port facilities and vessels. Additional measures have included increasing physical security for ports. The final aspect of the strategy is to build partnerships with the maritime community and to ensure readiness for timely and effective homeland security operations. The threat to the maritime community, its ships, cargo, and port facilities from natural threats, traditional criminal activity, piracy, and terrorism has existed throughout seafaring history. These threats to the America maritime community have continued from colonial days to the present. Traditional criminal activity can also target individuals in the maritime community. Most foreign terrorists that are a threat to the United States and the maritime community are Marxist or Islamic Jihadist. Most domestic terrorists in the United States are antigovernment, Marxist, Islamic Jihadist, or racist groups and are also a threat to the maritime community.