DUAL-USE MARITIME INFRASTRUCTURE
DUAL-USE MARITIME INFRASTRUCTURE

Author(s): Marian-Vasile SAVA
Subject(s): Security and defense, Military Sciences
Published by: Carol I National Defence University Publishing House
Keywords: dual-use infrastructure; seabed security; Romanian Naval Forces; AUV/UUV; Black Sea; Hybrid warfare.
Summary/Abstract: The seabed maritime infrastructure–encompassing communication cables, energy pipelines, and offshore platforms – has become a strategic element of global maritime security. In the face of increasing hybrid threats and conflicts developing below the threshold of conventional warfare, these structures can no longer be regarded merely as passive assets. The article introduces and defines the concept of dual-use maritime infrastructure, arguing for the transformation of existing civilian installations into active naval assets through the integration of acoustic sensors, distributed sonar networks, and autonomous underwater stations capable of supporting unmanned vehicles (AUVs/UUVs). To achieve this goal, the study employs a comparative and inductive qualitative methodology, analyzing international models of intelligent militarization of civilian infrastructure – particularly in the United States, the Baltic States, and China – and assessing their relevance to the Black Sea security environment. By correlating doctrinal adaptability with emerging maritime technologies, the paper identifies potential avenues for the Romanian Naval Forces to incorporate dual-use infrastructure into national and allied security frameworks. The findings highlight the strategic and operational value of integrating civilian maritime infrastructure into a coherent regional underwater security architecture, strengthening both national resilience and collective defense. The paper thus contributes to the development of a doctrinal foundation for future research and policy design in the field of seabed and critical maritime infrastructure protection.

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