In 2008, the US Department of Homeland Security named Stevens Institute of Technology as one among five national Centers of Excellence.
Moreover, the institute was chosen to conduct a research activity for addressing Port Security. The institute’s Center for Secure and Resilient Maritime Commerce (CSR) has played a crucial role in providing maritime information to state, local and national agencies in the U.S.
The CSR in unison with the University of Hawaii's National Center for Islands, Maritime, and Extreme Environments Security (CIMES) represent the National Center of Excellence for Maritime, Island and Extreme/Remote Environment Security of the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
The CSR partners with numerous institutions: U.S. Merchant Marine Academy's Global Maritime and Transportation School, Monmouth University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Puerto Rico, University of Miami and Rutgers University. Some of the other partners of the CSR include Nansen Environmental Remote Sensing Center, the Pacific Basin Development Council, Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems, the Mattingley Group and Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Michael S. Bruno, Dean of Schaefer School of Engineering and Science of Stevens Institute of Technology, stated that the school’s activity in port design-for-resiliency and maritime surveillance sensor development has achieved remarkable feats and the school is honored to get students involved in such homeland security projects.
In January 2009, CSR was instrumental in the safe landing of US Airways Flight 1549 by employing the Stevens York Harbor Observing and Prediction System (NYHOPS) for providing a detailed report on the water conditions at the Hudson River.
Moreover, in August 2009, the NYHOPS was used to provide real-time information on environmental, ocean, vessel traffic and weather conditions to assist recovery efforts after the mid-air collision between a small plane and a helicopter in the Hudson River area.