Office Of Homeland Security News

More than 44 pounds of cocaine was seized from a Marshall Islands-flagged bull carrier anchored in the Chesapeake Bay near Annapolis, Md., on Wednesday.The drugs were discovered during an early morning examination by officers and agents from the DEA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, U.S. Coast Guard, and Maryland Department of Natural Resources Police aboard the 958-foot Samjohn Solidarity. The 20 bricks of cocaine found concealed inside the vessel’s anchor locker has a street value of more than $1 million.No arrests were made…

The Trump administration on Tuesday denied a request to waive shipping restrictions to help get fuel and supplies to storm-ravaged Puerto Rico, saying it would do nothing to address the island's main impediment to shipping, damaged ports. The Jones Act limits shipping between coasts to U.S. flagged vessels. However, in the wake of brutal storms, the government has occasionally issued temporary waivers to allow the use of cheaper, tax free, or more readily available foreign flagged ships.

The joint effort between the U.S. Coast Guard and Shell continues in response to an oil discharge from a segment of flow line at the Glider Field located approximately 90 miles south of Timbalier Island, La., that occurred at approximately 11 a.m., Thursday. It is estimated that 88,200 gallons of crude oil has been discharged. Shell has shut-in production at the Glider Field. Five on-water recovery vessels have been mobilized and are searching for oil that can be safely recovered via skimming…

Leaders from key sectors of the Greater New Orleans region will meet on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 to address gaps in national domestic response capability by including regional best practices as part of a template to be shared by America's strategic military base and port communities. The symposium will include National Service Awards presentations, with special guest LTG Russel L. Honore’ (U.S. Army, ret.) as the keynote speaker. The symposium will be attended by leaders from area ports, U.S. Coast Guard, police and responders, National Guard, private and community sector leaders including Capt. Peter Gautier, Commander of the US Coast Guard Sector New Orleans…

More public safety dive teams are adding sonar to assist in their underwater search and recovery operations. Side scan is the ideal tool for these operations because it produces detailed images of the underwater environment regardless of water clarity. In addition, the sonar is able to search large areas quickly, scanning several hundred feet of ocean, lake, or river bottom with each pass of the boat. The sonar does this by transmitting an acoustic beam from a towfish which sweeps the bottom and reflects off any objects lying there.

UNITECH (Universal Systems & Technology, Inc.) has appointed Rear Adm. Paul J. Pluta, USCG (retired), to the position of senior vice president for homeland security. Adm. Pluta, who served as the assistant commandant for Marine Safety, Security and Environmental Protection was instrumental in pulling together the new port security requirements for U.S. waterways in the days following the terrorist attacks. He brings to UNITECH more than 36 years of distinguished Coast Guard experience…

"Maritime Domain Awareness" is the new watchword for the maritime community. The discovery of a well equipped, suspected Al-Qa'eda member in a cargo container in Italy was one of the recent stark lessons in the vulnerability of maritime transportation security. In addition, the U.S. Coast Guard temporarily denied entry to the liquefied natural gas tanker Matthew to Boson for insufficient security and a crew member on another vessel who jumped ship in New Orleans was later found to have the telephone number of an Al-Qa'eda terrorist. Congress and the Executive branch are now turning their attention to improving seaport security in ways that could disrupt the movement of ships, freight, crews, and passengers and result in major operational changes for companies in the industry.

New security regulations and specially trained port security teams are among the newest tools being employed in Operation Neptune Shield, the Coast Guard's plan for fighting the global war on terrorism here at home, as military operations continue against Taliban and Al-Qaida fighters overseas. "Since Sept. 11, the Coast Guard has implemented a multi-layered strategy for protecting our ports and waterways," said Atlantic Area Commander Vice Adm. Thad Allen. "Under Operation Neptune Shield, new regulations, additional resources and a closer working relationship with our intelligence and law enforcement partners have allowed us to harden our borders.

New security regulations and specially trained port security teams are among the newest tools being employed in Operation Neptune Shield, the Coast Guard's plan for fighting the global war on terrorism here at home, as military operations continue against Taliban and Al-Qaida fighters overseas. "Since Sept. 11, the Coast Guard has implemented a multi-layered strategy for protecting our ports and waterways," said Atlantic Area Commander Vice Adm. Thad Allen. "Under Operation Neptune Shield, new regulations, additional resources and a closer working relationship with our intelligence and law enforcement partners have allowed us to harden our borders.

The President has proposed creating a new Department of Homeland Security, the most significant transformation of the U.S. government in over a half-century by largely transforming and realigning the current confusing patchwork of government activities into a single department whose primary mission is to protect our homeland. The creation of a Department of Homeland Security is one more key step in the President's national strategy for homeland security. Immediately after last fall's attack, the President took decisive steps to protect America -- from hardening cockpits and stockpiling vaccines to tightening our borders. The President…

“For more than 40 years, Admiral James Loy has dedicated himself to the protection of our country and its citizens. Following his retirement as Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard in May 2002, Jim answered the call to service once again by standing up the Transportation Security Administration. He later joined the Department of Homeland Security to oversee the integration of 22 previously disparate agencies into one unified organization solely responsible for protecting our homeland. His vision and commitment to the protection of our country during the department’s early years will have a lasting effect for years to come. Jim was the first federal official to offer me his support, and that of the U.S.

Homeland Security. harbors. multifaceted way," said Dr. at Cal Maritime. federal or the state level. director for the campus, both of whom are expected to be in place by fall. undertakings as appropriate. security related announcement for the campus. received the U.S. Maritime's Continuing Education Department. Security Code (ISPS). which are based on standards that we helped develop," added Zingale.

Governor Schwarzenegger joins Admiral Kevin J. Eldridge, USCG, Commander, Eleventh Coast Guard District and Matt Bettenhausen, Director, Office of Homeland Security, State of California, onboard a UTB-41 Coast Guard boat to observe coast guard port security drills. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced a $5 million grant to improve port security at 11 of California's ports during a visit to the San Diego Coast Guard Joint Operations Center. "In California, we have many threat targets, including large urban areas, mass transit, railways, and international icons like the Golden Gate Bridge," said Gov. Schwarzenegger. California's ports bring in 43 percent of the nation's cargo containers.

The U.S. Coast Guard, Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) and the U.S. Virgin Islands Government are working together to coordinate a one-day full-scale Caribbean Mass Rescue Operation Exercise in Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands on Aug. Since 2002, Coast Guard passenger vessel safety specialists from around the United States have been working together with the passenger vessel operators to develop standardized procedures for managing a mass rescue operation. Through meetings and a series of exercises, the participants learn about each others' capabilities, identify best response practices and are establishing standardized procedures to help ensure maximum effectiveness. NCL volunteered to be the lead cruise line in this exercise to assist the Coast Guard in their emergency preparedness efforts.

The U.S. Preparedness (OHSP) Richard L. Cañas said. Another $2.7 million in port funding went to New Jersey private companies and a municipality in the two port areas. $27.3 million for the New York/New Jersey port region. grant for this port. awarded almost $4.8 million, a portion of which will be spent on security projects that will benefit New Jersey. In the Delaware Bay region made up of ports in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware, Cañas said that OHSP was awarded almost $3.1 million, the largest single grant of a total of nearly $13.3 million provided to the port region. its police and fire departments and four private energy companies received a total of $242,500.

The Transportation Security Administration and the Coast Guard will facilitate a port security exercise on Thursday in Baltimore to evaluate preparedness, prevention and the ability to respond to and recover from a terrorist-related incident, and a press briefing will be held before the exercise begins. 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 and governmental agencies and private industry.

Local, state and federal agencies are holding an oil spill response exercise at the Port of Houston, April 25-26. The exercise scenario simulates an explosion, fire onboard the ship Cape Trinity, and a 252,000 gallon oil spill in the turning basin of the Houston Ship Channel. The Cape Trinity is a Maritime Administration (MARAD) ship used for transporting military equipment and supplies overseas. The exercise, called Trinity 2006, will be used to train and test local responders and response plans. Agencies participating in the exercise include: U.S. Coast Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Texas General Land Office, the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration…

The Coast Guard, partnered with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies as well as many of the key port players, exercised risk management strategies aimed at protecting the city and the Port of Memphis. The exercise was led by the DHS Protective Security Advisor for the Memphis District, Mr. Greg Innis. The exercise participants included representatives from Coast Guard, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Tennessee Office of Homeland Security, Tennessee and Shelby County Emergency Management Agencies, Memphis Police Department, Shelby County Sheriff's Department, U.S. Attorney's Office, Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, the Port Commission, Railroad Police and many local facility security officers.

The home-porting ceremony for the Coast Guard cutter Long Island is scheduled for June 28, at 10 a.m. followed by a reception. The ceremony and reception will occur outdoors at the head of the Coast Guard Pier, near Coast Guard Marine Safety Office's Public Works parking area on Fidalgo St. here. Keynote speakers for the ceremony include Honorable Sen. Ted Stevens and Sen. Lisa Murkowski, Alaska State Gov. Frank Murkowski, Admiral Thomas H. Collins, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard; Rear Adm. James W. Underwood, Commander, 17th Coast Guard District; and Valdez Mayor Bert Cottle. Cutter Long Island and the Marine Safety Office's maritime homeland security small boats, berthed at the Valdez Coast Guard Pier, will be open for public visitation from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Associate Deputy Secretary of Transportation Jeffrey Shane and Deputy Customs Commissioner Douglas Browning jointly announced the launch of Operation Safe Commerce (OSC), a program to fund business initiatives designed to enhance security for container cargo moving throughout the international transportation system. Operation Safe Commerce will provide a test-bed for new security techniques that have the potential to increase the security of container shipments. DOT and Customs will use the program to identify existing vulnerabilities in the supply chain and develop improved methods for ensuring the security of cargo entering and leaving the United States. Those security techniques that prove successful under the program will then be recommended for implementation system-wide.

Taking a moment to think back to when Holland America Line (HAL) first announced the formulation of the new Vista Class at the Sea Trade Cruise Shipping Show in Miami, Fla. in March 2001, it is almost as though we are living in a different world. The cruise industry was booming, there was no such thing, as the Office of Homeland Security and the threats of terrorism seemed only real in distant lands. One thing is the same, however, and that is that despite all these obstacles — both financial and political — HAL stood its ground to work with Fincantieri to build a vessel class like no other - both on the technical and design fronts. MR/EN had the opportunity to explore the premiere vessel of this class — MS Zuiderdam —inside and out during its preview cruise this past December.

The U.S. Office of Homeland Security issued a report entitled, Securing the Homeland Strengthening the Nation. The report addresses the U.S. response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the national strategy for the future regarding homeland security, and budget priorities related to homeland security. For instance, it proposes strengthening U.S. borders while making them highly efficient, posing little or no obstacle to legitimate trade and travel. The Coast Guard will develop mechanisms for maintaining maritime domain awareness and provide enhanced defenses for critical high-risk vessels and coastal facilities. Source: HK Law