"Faced with the possibility of asymmetric attack at any time, naval forces around the world have revisited their training and equipment requirements.

It is an uncomfortable fact that when entering port or tied up alongside, warships are robbed of one of their strongest defences: the ability to manoeuvre for advantage. No matter how sophisticated the vessel's warfare is, low-intensity threats can so easily creep in 'under the radar.'

This lesson was graphically underlined in 2000, when one of the world's most sophisticated surface combatants USS Cole was humbled by a small craft assisting in mooring operations in Yemen."