Naval oceanographers used the latest underwater technology to look for mines in Corpus Christi harbor as part of a Limited Objective Experiment (LOE). The Experiment, held May 11 to 15, focused on homeland maritime security.
Elements of the Naval Oceanography Mine Warfare Command (NOMWC) and the Naval Oceanographic Office (NAVOCEANO) used unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) to survey the harbor and analyzed that data to find dummy mines placed in the ship channel to simulate a terrorist threat to the nation's sixth largest port. The experiment is an interagency exercise with the U.S. Coast Guard and local authorities, and is being conducted by the Naval Mine and Anti-Submarine Warfare Command (NMAWC).
"We operate the UUVs, analyze the data and analyze the environmental conditions that can have an impact on mine countermeasures operations," said Cmdr. Paul Oosterling, NOMWC's commander. "One of the key capabilities our program brings to the fight is the ability to characterize the environment with data from the UUVs, and other sonar sensors including available aviation assets."
Sailors with the Navy Oceanography Program, which includes those assigned to Explosive Ordnance Detachment Mobile Unit (EODMU) 1, are among the Navy's most experienced in the operation of UUVs. NOMWC has been operating UUVs for about two years, but Naval Oceanography has been working with the technology for about a decade.
Change-detection, which involves comparing historic data with current information, is used to determine where a threat may lie. A baseline survey of the Port of Corpus Christi was conducted by NOMWC personnel and their UUVs in March, providing a baseline of data from which to work.
"The work is grueling and tedious, but it saves many hours in mine clearance operations, particularly when we have an earlier survey to compare," Oosterling said.
NOMWC and NAVOCEANO are the first steps in the lengthy mine neutralization process. NOMWC surveys the harbor, then NOMWC and NAVOCEANO personnel analyze the data collected to identify suspected mines. Those contacts are delivered to the mine countermeasures operations center to determine the best method of disposal.
Sailors and NAVOCEANO civilians worked around-the-clock surveying the harbor and analyzing the data to report contacts to the Incident Command Post throughout the Experiment.
Lt. Scott Parker, NOMWC UUV officer, said that in the Corpus Christi scenario that unfolded the week of May 11 the harbor would be cleared to resume ship traffic in four days. In a real world situation, the harbor would be cleared even more quickly.
The Corpus Christi experiment was designed to further interoperability of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Coast Guard, and civilian authorities in protecting U.S. ports and waterways, while developing and implementing tactics, techniques and procedures and experiment with new technologies. Four other similar exercises have been held in Honolulu, San Diego, Tampa and Portsmouth, N.H.
Navy oceanographers hope to benefit as well.
"We're training and developing tactics, techniques and procedures to become a tactical response asset for homeland defense and overseas confined water work," Oosterling said.
NOMWC and NAVOCEANO are part of the Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, which employs environmental data in operational decision-making. The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Command, which has about 3,000 officer, enlisted and civilian personnel worldwide, directs the Navy's meteorology and oceanography programs.
George Lammons (NNS)
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