US Federal efforts needed to prevent and respond to terrorist attacks on energy commodity tankers

Tankers bring 55 percent of the nation's crude oil supply, as well as liquefied gases and refined products like jet fuel.

This supply chain is potentially vulnerable in many places here and abroad, as borne out by several successful overseas attacks on ships and facilities. The supply chain faces three main types of threats; suicide attacks such as explosive-laden boats, 'standoff' attacks with weapons launched from a distance, and armed assaults. Highly combustible commodities such as liquefied gases have the potential to catch fire or, in a more unlikely scenario, explode, posing a threat to public safety. Attacks could also have environmental consequences, and attacks that disrupt the supply chain could have a severe economic impact. Decisions about the need for more response capabilities are hindered, however, by a lack of performance measures tying resource needs to effectiveness in response.

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