Maritime Security a Year-Round Duty
While many Australians spend Anzac Day off work, Royal Australian Navy personnel around the world will remain on watch, contributing to global security, stability and prosperity. On operations in countries as far from home as Afghanistan and South Sudan, in regions such as the Middle East and in waters offAustralia’s northern borders. Their work is 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, but they will take some time off on 25 April to honour the sacrifices made by past and present service men and women. HMAS Ballarat is on a three-month deployment to South East Asia and will take part in a dawn service at Kranji War Memorial inSingapore with New Zealand service personnel.
U.S. Coast Guard Backs NIMASA Security Efforts
The United States Coast Guard has declared that the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) is on the right path to the successful implementation of the International Ships and Ports Facility Security (ISPS) Code in Nigeria. The leader of the U.S. Coast Guard team to Nigeria, Tivo Romero made this declaration at a meeting with members of the ISPS Code Implementation Committee in Nigeria on Friday in Lagos during a visit to NIMASA, the Designated Authority for ISPS Code implementation in Nigeria.
REC Baltimore Transitions to NMC
The Regional Examination Center (REC) located in , , transitioned to become a field unit of the National Maritime Center (NMC), located in , REC was previously a division of the Prevention Department within Coast Guard Sector Baltimore. REC will now become a storefront operation, with staff focused on helping mariners ensure their applications are ready for evaluation. Mariners will still need to verify their identity, get fingerprinted and take their tests at the REC. Completed application packages will be sent to the NMC for evaluation. The NMC will conduct security, professional qualification, medical evaluations and will print and issue credentials. REC will be joining many other RECs who have already transitioned.
Ports Conduct Security Exercise
Harbor residents of and will see increased law enforcement activity this Wednesday and Thursday as area emergency responders participate in a 2-day U.S. Coast Guard lead counterterrorism exercise. The exercise is designed to test the Area Maritime Security Plan that was mandated by the Maritime Security Transportation Act of 2002 (MTSA). The exercise will take place in both the Ports of Los Angeles and and include simulated bombings that law enforcement and fire agencies will respond to in real-time. The U.S. Coast Guard, FBI, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department…
Feature: Secure Seas, Open Ports
As new international and domestic regulations regarding shipping security enter force, the focus is not simply on security, but also on maintaining a healthy flow of commerce to keep the U.S. and world economy humming. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge recently announced the implementation of new security measures designed to build upon the layers of security that are already in place at the nation's ports. The new measures, required by the Maritime Transportation Security Act, add additional security protections to every port in the United States. Port and vessel protection continues to remain one of the Department of Homeland Security's highest priorities.
TSA and Coast Guard Conduct Security Exercise
The Transportation Security Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard will facilitate a port security exercise today in Wilmington, N.C. to evaluate preparedness, prevention and the ability to respond to and recover from a terrorist-related incident. The Port Security Training Exercises Program (PortSTEP) is focused on building links within the Area Maritime Security (AMS) Committee. The committee assists the captain of the port in writing, reviewing and updating an AMS plan in addition to supporting other transportation entities that depend upon the port being secure. The exercise will involve the entire port community, including both public governmental agencies and private industry.
USS John L. Hall Sailors Conduct Security Training
Sailors of USS John L. Hall (FFG 32) simulated boarding a vessel carrying cargo, inspecting its crew and inspecting the ship for proper documentation Sept. With USS McFaul (DDG 74) serving as the "cargo ship," Sailors came aboard dressed for the occasion, climbing out of rigid hull inflatable boats wearing everything from battle helmets to flak jackets. Teams scanned the areas, using their security training to clear each area in order to protect themselves. Teams scanned everything from the bridge to the fantail. One of the teams, according to Master-at-Arms 1st Class Brian Williams, also had the job to "take down" personnel on the foc'sle, who were McFaul Sailors, dressed in their civilian attire to play the role of cargo ship personnel.
Coast Guard, Navy to Conduct Security Exercise
A flotilla of military and support vessels Tuesday will conduct a joint security exercise off of the entrance to Pearl Harbor. Persons viewing this exercise from shore or from other vessels should not be alarmed - this is only an exercise. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Galveston Island along with small boats from Naval Station Pearl Harbor, Naval Submarine Support Command, and the Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Honolulu will exercise a variety of security scenarios. Additional support vessels include a Coast Guard Auxiliary vessel and several small boats and personal water craft from the Afloat Training Group Middle Pacific. These exercises will involve numerous high speed small boat maneuvers as well as flashing handheld lights and short blasts from air horns.
Patrol Ships, Naval Academy Conduct Boarding Training
A Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) Sailor assigned to coastal patrol ship USS Hurricane (PC 3) conducts an initial security sweep aboard Yard Patrol Craft 681 (YP 681) while his shipmates board the vessel. YP 681 acted as a non-compliant vessel as part of Hurricane's Advanced Phase Training Exercise, designed to prepare the crew for upcoming deployments. U.S. Sailors and assets from the U.S. Naval Academy provided a unique training opportunity Jan. 10 and 17 for the crews of USS Thunderbolt (PC 12) and USS Hurricane (PC 3) in the Chesapeake Bay. The exercises were part of Thunderbolt and Hurricane's theater-tailored Advanced Phase Training Exercise, designed to prepare the crews for upcoming deployments.
USCG Conduct Security Exercise in Boston
With a vigilant eye, a Coast Guard crewman mans the machine gun aboard a 25-foot response boat during a security training exercise in Boston Harbor today. U.S. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Luke Pinneo
Coast Guard and Partners to Conduct Security Exercise
Coast Guard Sector Northern New England, Coast Guard Air Station Cape Cod, the Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team, the Coast Guard Atlantic Strike Team, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Maine Emergency Team-WMD, the Cities of Portland and South Portland, Portland Pipeline and many other area agencies and industry partners will be participating in a full-scale maritime security exercise in the port of Portland May 9 through May 12. The exercise provides local players with the opportunity to practice interagency coordination and response to a potential attack on the Maritime Transportation System. In the aftermath of 9/11…
