Floating Barriers
PSB 5500 Port Security Barrier System
The PSB 5500™ anti-terrorist system employs a continuous net capture system supported on a pontoon structure. It was developed by the US Navy to be used when maximum security is required.
This marine barrier system has the highest ultimate stopping energy (9.09M ft lbs/12,337 kJ) and working stopping energy (5,500,000 lbf/24.46 MN) of the Harbor Offshore Barriers’ anti-terrorism systems.
The PSB 5500 maritime security system is designed to stop:
- Fast Inshore Attack Crafts (FIAC)
- Boat-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (BBIED)
- Multiple boat and swarm attacks
- Intruders at full power before, during, and after impact
- Slow speed, heavy tonnage vessels
- High speed, lower tonnage vessels
PSB 5500 Barrier System – Energy Absorption and Stopping Power
- Ultimate stopping energy 9.09M ft lbf/12.33 MJ
- Working stopping energy 5.49M ft lbf/7.44 MJ
Constructed System
- PSB 5500 unit length is 50 ft (15.24 m) and 40 ft (12.19 m) units are available.
- Pontoons are made from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) that is corrosion free and resistant to UV exposure for 50+ years.
- Pontoons are usually 1.75 in (4.45 cm) in thickness and 40 in (106.68 cm) in diameter subject to conditions, customer requirements or other factors.
- Pontoons can be supplied in either parallel or perpendicular design.
- Netting is attached to a galvanized steel beam that runs from pontoon to pontoon.
- Netting is constructed of steel, stainless steel or synthetic materials and generally rises 9 ft (2.74 m) above the water line.
- Netting is attached to a galvanized steel beam that runs from pontoon to pontoon with 7 net warps per unit.
- Total unit weight is 6,000 lbs (2.7 tons)
- Under 106-knot wind and 4-knot current broadside conditions, withstands 2,540 lbf (11,298.42 N)
- Anchors vary by type and size depending on engineering requirements.
- Shore connections and subsurface anchors are designed to accommodate large fluctuations of water levels at dams, high currents and up to 30 ft (9.14 m) ocean tidal cycles.
- Connection units and latches are of proprietary design under license from the US Navy to handle continuous motion and heavy loads.
- Parts and connections are interchangeable.
- Gate systems built to client needs.
Performance
- Durability – HDPE pontoon’s thickness and diameter produce structural strength sufficient to withstand the weight of the heavy steel beam and netting so that the entire system can stop high-energy vessels.
- Low maintenance – uses composite materials, is a simple system structure, and has as few parts as possible to support easy and low-cost inspection and maintenance.
- Low operational cost – making the system light and keeping the wind, current, and wave loading on the system as low as practical gives operators the ability to easily open/close gates.
Expertise and Service
- Expert installation – teams include divers and marine constructors with over 30 years experience working with each other.
- Anchor placement and mooring arrangements – placing anchors on the seabed requires skills that few teams can offer.
- Fosters local partnerships – local sub-contractors join the team when qualified, gaining work skills and technology training.
- Life-cycle value – team experts provide life-cycle cost estimates to be used in formulating investment and insurance calculations and in selecting the system that meets the customer’s needs.