Rhetoric, rationality and reality in post-9/11 maritime security

The post-9/11 maritime security scenario was characterized by intense rhetoric in the first few years, during which security measures such as the Container Security Initiative (CSI) and International Ship and Port Security (ISPS) code were adopted. This rhetoric resulted in a hasty implementation that precluded a detailed examination of security measures. Findings show that while rhetoric was useful for facilitating quicker adoption of security measures, it nonetheless prevented a fuller examination of security threats and responses, resulting in security gaps. This paper examines the effectiveness of the security responses and identifies some gaps in security coverage and other inefficiencies. Recommendations are also made to overcome these limitations.