ABSTRACT
This chapter develops a framework for analysing the contemporary threat of maritime terrorism. After explaining the seriously disruptive effects that could result from terrorist attacks at sea or against significant port facilities, it outlines a general trend since the mid-1990s of maritime attacks by non-state actors becoming increasingly violent with greater casualties. The chapter also discusses indications of several contemporary terrorist groups having both the intent and capabilities to perpetrate significant maritime attacks. To provide a structured framework for conceptualising all the ways in which terrorists have, and might in the future, seek to target and/or utilise vessels – the chapter formulates the Maritime Terrorism Threat Matrix – which enables the recording of all previous instances where maritime attacks have been successfully perpetrated, attempted, planned by terrorists and postulated by maritime security specialists. These are examined under five broad headings which are ‘the vessel as a target’; ‘the vessel as a weapon’; ‘the vessel as a bomb’; ‘the vessel as a disruption tool’ against the free flow of maritime navigation and ‘the vessel as a means’ of facilitating terrorist activities through transporting weaponry, terrorist operatives and/or financing terrorist activities.
