Floating Barriers
PSB-T Port Security Barrier System
The PSB-T is a maritime barrier security system used by the US Navy and is suitable for military and civilian use. Full-scale testing by the US Navy found that the system provides true physical security protection against 98% of vessels classified by the US Coast Guard as small craft (65 ft/19.8 m).
We manufacture, install and maintain the PSB-T and other US Navy products under a licensing arrangement granted to us in 2004, the first company to be licensed to do so. This includes permission to build upon patents #6,681,709 “Port Security Barrier System,” #6,843,197 “Near Shore Port Security Barrier,” and #7,401,565 “Port Security Barrier” for security systems worldwide. We are fully approved to provide variations of the basic Navy PSB model including the PSB-P and PSB-V in addition to the PSB-T model.
The PSB-T maritime security system is designed to stop:
- Fast Inshore Attack Crafts (FIAC)
- Boat-Borne Improvised Explosive Devices (BBIED)
- Attacks on naval bases, ships, military strategic ammunitions and fuel depots, nuclear ships/submarines, and military support facilities.
- 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-T Barrier System – Energy Absorption and Stopping Power
- Ultimate stopping energy 5.90M ft lbf/7.99 MJ
- Working stopping energy 3.70M ft lbf/5.01 MJ
Constructed System
- PSB-T until length is generally 40 ft (12.2 m) and 50 ft (15.24 m)
- Pontoons are made from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) that is corrosion free and resistant to UV exposure for 50+ years.
- Pontoons are usually 1.25 in (3.17 cm) thick and 30 in (76.2 cm) in diameter subject to conditions, customer requirements or other factors.
- Netting is attached to a galvanized steel beam that runs from pontoon to pontoon with 5 net warps per unit.
- Netting is constructed of nylon and generally rises 7 ft (2.13 m) above the water line and is available in international orange.
- Anchors vary by type and size depending on engineering requirements.
- Shore terminations are designed and installed to resist loads induced by high current flow and tide rates.
- Shore connections and subsurface anchors designed to accommodate large fluctuations of water levels from ocean tide cycles, high currents, and up to 30 ft (9.14 m) tidal ranges.
- Under an 85-knot wind and 4-knot current broadside, the system can withstand 2,137 lbf (9,505.84 N).
- Total unit weight is 3,400 lbs (1.54 tons)
- Parts and connections are interchangeable.
- Barrier gate systems allow vessels to pass through a marine security barrier for entrance and egress from the protected waterside area.
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.