After the tragic events of 9/11, the United States faced the challenging
task of creating new rules and policies to protect the homeland. In
addition to many other actions, Congress and the Department of Homeland
Security responded by passing and implementing the Maritime Transportation
Security Act (
MTSA) of 2002. The MTSA is a significant piece of legislation
and its regulations affect nearly every member of the maritime community,
including minimally regulated or previously unregulated entities. The new
regulatory scheme has generated many questions and some confusion regarding
MTSA and
International Ship & Port Facility Security Code (ISPS)
implementation and enforcement. Recognizing the need for clarity and
uniformity, the Coast Guard established the MTSA-ISPS Help Desk for
inquiries from both the public and governmental entities. The Help Desk's
mission includes minimizing confusion and ensuring interpretive consistency
during the various phases of MTSA and ISPS implementation and enforcement.
The MTSA-ISPS Help Desk provides information via three primary methods: web
directory, e-mail and telephone. The Help Desk's "one-stop-shop" public
internet site,