Homeland Security Mission News

VT Halter in Pascagoula, MS has been on a strong run, capped by its winning the high-profile contract to build the U.S. Coast Guard’s next generation of icebreakers. Maritime Reporter recently spoke with Ron Baczkowski, President and CEO, VT Halter Marine, for insights on the shipyard’s recent success and future prospects. Globally, the shipbuilding industry has gone through some ‘interesting’ times of late. How has it looked from your perspective?The shipbuilding market and activity at VT Halter during the past 12 months has been dynamic.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO) and SAFE Boat International celebrated the unveiling of AMO’s newest coastal interceptor vessel (CIV) Thursday. In honor of AMO’s historical legacy, this first CIV will be named the Alexandria, after of one of the first maritime law enforcement “Collectorships” used by the Department of Treasury in 1789. AMO marine interdiction agents will operate the CIV in offshore coastal waters to combat maritime smuggling and protect U.S. ports from acts of terrorism. The vessel will provide agents with requisite speed, maneuverability, and improved safety and comfort. It is equipped with a state-of-the-art marine navigational suite.

SAFE Boats International (SBI), a manufacturer of aluminum boats located in Bremerton, Wash., has completed the first Coastal Interceptor Vessel (CIV) on contract from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Air and Marine Operations (AMO). A naming ceremony was held at SAFE Boats International facilities on Thursday, May 26, 2016 to name the vessel the Alexandria as well as celebrate the first CIV as SBI’s 2,000 delivered craft. Invitees to the event included CBP Officials, Congressional staff members, local government officials and business people, equipment suppliers and media.

The Coast Guard is scheduled to participate in training exercises Thursday, in the vicinity of Los Angeles Harbor and Long Beach Harbor. Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) San Diego 91109 will partner with U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection, Border Patrol Tactical Unit (BORTAC) as participants in the Center for Asymmetric Warfare exercise Coastal Trident 2014. The Pacific Strike Team (PST) and National Guard 9th Civil Support Team will practice first aid and decontamination capabilities. MSST San Diego was created under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 in direct response to the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, and is a part of the Department of Homeland Security’s layered strategy directed at protecting seaports and waterways.

A Change of Command Ceremony was held at Reservation Point aboard Base San Pedro, Wednesday for the Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Los Angeles-Long Beach (MSST LA-LB). During the ceremony Lt. Cmdr. Taylor Lam assumed the duties and responsibilities as commanding officer of MSST LA-LB from Lt. Cmdr. Tim Margita while Capt. Thomas E. Crabbs presided over the ceremony. Lam comes to MSST LA-LB from the Office of Congressional Affaris in Washington, D.C. He served at the former Tactical Law Enforcement Team North where he deployed aboard U.S. and Foreign Naval ships conducting Maritime Law Enforcement operations in the Pacific and Caribbean Oceans.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Metal Shark Boats President Chris Allard announced the company will make a $1.52 million capital investment to expand its Jeanerette shipyard in support of military, law enforcement agency and commercial boat contracts. The expansion will create 88 new direct jobs, with an average salary of more than $62,000, plus benefits, and Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in an additional 134 new indirect jobs, for a total of 222 new jobs.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has commenced Phase 2 of the National Dialogue for the Quadrennial Homeland Security Review (QHSR). Interested parties are asked to prioritize homeland security mission objectives, advise on what must be done to achieve those objectives, and discuss the ideas of others. (9/1/09). (Source: Bryant’s Maritime News)

Admiral Robert Natter, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and Vice Adm. Thad Allen, Commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area, jointly announced the assignment of four Cyclone-Class Navy Patrol Coastal (PC) ships in support of the nation’s homeland security Operation Noble Eagle. Two additional PCs will be assigned to the Pacific Coast. For the first time, U.S. Navy ships will be employed jointly with the U.S. Coast Guard to help protect our nation’s coastline, ports and waterways from terrorist attack. “The Atlantic Fleet is working closely with the Coast Guard to ensure the security of our Gulf and east coast ports,” said Admiral Natter. “These ships will be used for coastal patrol and interdiction efforts with the Coast Guard.

During a celebration to commemorate the delivery of the first Deepwater surface asset under the Integrated Deepwater System, the Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thomas H. Collins accepted delivery of the vessel and returned the CG Ensign to the USCG Cutter Matagorda today, Friday, March 5, 2004, at Bollinger Shipyards, in Lockport, La. The ceremony celebrated the delivery, which officially occurred on Monday, March 1, of the first newly completed 123-ft. patrol boat, USCGC Matagorda, manufactured by HBJV, a joint venture of Bollinger Shipyards LLC and VT Halter Marine, Inc of Gulfport, Miss.

As increasing attention is paid to ensuring the nation is secure from attacks - whether direct or covert - via the waterways, companies that supply vessels and equipment to the Coast Guard and Navy are quickly planning for an expected upturn in business. Last month Admiral Robert Natter, Commander in Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet, and Vice Adm. Thad Allen, Commander of the Coast Guard Atlantic Area, announced the assignment of four Cyclone-Class Navy Patrol Coastal (PC) ships in support of the nation's homeland security Operation Noble Eagle. Two additional PCs will be assigned to the Pacific Coast. For the first time, U.S. Navy ships will be employed jointly with the U.S. Coast Guard to help protect the nation's coastline, ports and waterways from terrorist attack.

The U.S. Coast Guard said that all 13 Cyclone-Class Navy Patrol Coastal (PC) ships have been reassigned to the Coast Guard in support of the Homeland Security mission. Six of these vessels were first assigned to support the Coast Guard in October 2001. Now the remaining seven have joined them in defending the U.S. coastline from security threats. The patrol craft are operated by Navy crews, but carry a team of USCG personnel who carry out any necessary law enforcement action. (Source: HK Law)

The United States Coast Guard has named Frances Fragos-Townsend as its Director of Intelligence. In this position, Fragos-Townsend leads the service’s Intelligence Directorate, the Intelligence Coordination Center and act as program manager for the Coast Guard’s national intelligence effort. She is charged with enhancing inter-agency and maritime awareness in the war on terrorism. “The Coast Guard is widely respected by our intelligence, military and law enforcement partners for our multi-mission maritime capabilities,” said Fragos-Townsend. “Those partnerships and robust information sharing between agencies are key to our long term homeland security mission.” According to Fragos-Townsend…

The U.S. Coast Guard has issued guidance to its personnel regarding vessel boarding safety when conducting boardings of large commercial vessels as part of the homeland security mission. The guidance cautions Coast Guard personnel about the need for safety briefings prior to any such boarding, the risks of explosive vapors, and the risks inherent in confined space entry. It notes that many Coast Guard personnel may not have received specific training concerning the risks related to this new mission. The guidance is a good first step toward minimizing the risks inherent in boardings of sophisticated commercial vessels by persons other than the regular crew. Further guidance is required, though, and will be issued shortly. Source: HK Law

The General Accounting Office (GAO) released the testimony presented at the March 19, 2002 hearing before the Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. The testimony, entitled Coast Guard: Budget and Management Challenges for 2003 and Beyond, discussed the effect of the homeland security mission on the service's other missions; issues regarding future mission balance; and challenges facing the future Coast Guard. Source: HK Law

Coast Guard Pacific Area will commission a new Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST 91109) Tuesday at 1p.m. at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot here at 3800 Chosin Avenue. Vice Adm. Harvey Johnson, Commander, Coast Guard Pacific Area, will be the presiding official for the ceremony, and Congresswoman Susan Davis is scheduled to attend. MSSTs are a quick response force capable of rapid, nationwide deployment via air, ground or sea transportation in response to changing threat conditions and evolving Maritime Homeland Security mission requirements. They are modeled after the Coast Guard's Port Security Unit's and Law Enforcement Detachments. Created in direct response to the terrorist attacks Sept.

WASHINGTON - Coast Guard Director of Port Security, Rear Adm. Craig E. Bone, testified today on chemical facility security before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “Considering the vast economic utility of our ports, waterways and coastal approaches, it is clear that a terrorist incident against a facility in our marine transportation system could have a disastrous impact on public safety, the environment, our nation’s economy, and international trade. Such an incident, if it were to occur in a strategic port, could also threaten our military mobilization capabilities. An incident at one of the 350 chemical…

Coast Guard Director of Port Security, Rear Adm. Craig E. Bone, testified today on chemical facility security before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. His written statement submitted for the record, follows. "Good morning Madam Chairperson and distinguished members of the Committee. It is a pleasure to be here today to discuss the U.S. Coast Guard’s role in securing the chemical facilities on the navigational waterways of the United States. The men and women of the U.S. Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security remain committed to improving maritime homeland security each and every day through continued interagency cooperation and assistance from our partners at the local, state and international levels, as well as maritime industry stakeholders.

Knight Ridder reports that even the U.S. Coast Guard boat throttles down and moves aside when the Susan M., Alameda County's new 85-ft. homeland security patrol boat, blasts past Jack London Square toward San Francisco Bay. The Coast Guard boat is said to be a key component of the East Bay's defense against a water-side terrorist attack. But the county's twin-engine cutter -- a sleek fiberglass vessel with a menacing pair of .50-caliber machine guns adorning its bow -- provides proof that there's a new player in town when it comes to guarding the Bay Area from offshore intruders. Alameda County, led by its sheriff, Charles Plummer, has…

A U. S. Navy 179-ft. Cyclone class patrol boat is scheduled to be formally commissioned as a Coast Guard cutter during a ceremony in their new homeport of Naval Station Pascagoula. After commissioning, the Coast Guard Cutter Tempest will conduct homeland security, search and rescue and law enforcement operations in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and Western Atlantic. The Tempest is the fifth Cyclone class patrol boat commissioned as part of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Navy and Coast Guard signed in 2004. Coast Guard cutters Monsoon (WPC-4) and Zephyr (WPC-8), homeported in San Diego , Calif., and cutters Tornado (WPC-14) and Shamal (WPC-13), homeported in Pascagoula.

Vice Admiral Terry Cross, commander of the Eleventh Coast Guard District, reinstated Captain John Holmes to his position as the commanding officer of Coast Guard Marine Safety Office/Group Los Angeles-Long Beach today. Holmes had been temporarily assigned to the district’s marine safety staff while the FBI conducted an investigation into security concerns within the command. The FBI’s investigation has been completed, but the results are not being released due to the security classification of the report. Commander George Cummings, the unit’s executive officer, led the command during Holmes temporary assignment. "This matter has been fully investigated…

The Homeland Security Industries Association (HSIA), kicked off its formation today by presenting seven position statements that recommend how government and industry can work together on critical homeland security areas. The HSIA position statements address airport security; port and maritime security; protection against bio-terrorism and chemical agent attacks, radiological and nuclear security; critical infrastructure protection and physical security; information technology security; security equipment and information sharing security; and best business practices. HSIA is a non-profit organization founded by Washington attorney Bruce Aitken, Co-chair of Aitken, Irvin, Berlin & Vrooman, LLP, who serves as its President.

The U.S. Coast Guard issued Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular (NVIC) 9-02 entitled Guidelines for Port Security Committees and Port Security Plans Required for U.S. Ports Building on its Maritime Homeland Security Mission, the Coast Guard Headquarters has advised its field units on how to structure the Port Security Committees and how to develop Port Security Plans. By February 28, 2003, each Captain of the Port (COTP) is to conduct a preliminary port level security assessment in conjunction with the Port Security Committee. The assessment will provide the basis for finalizing the Port Security Plan. Source: HK Law

A Coast Guard H-60 helicopter sighted a trawler allegedly fishing for groundfish in the Rockfish Conservation Area on February 6. A National Oceanographic Atmospheric Agency Fisheries Special Agent aboard the helicopter spotted the fishing vessel Astoria, Ore.-based Sara Frances using bottom trawl gear in this conservation area. Beginning January 1 of this year, fishing for groundfish in this area with bottom trawl gear is prohibited. The Coast Guard pilot contacted the vessel captain and confirmed its position inside the restricted zone. With this information, NOAA Fisheries special agents met the 67-foot fishing vessel when it returned to Warrenton, Ore. Friday. The agents seized approximately 20,000 lbs. of groundfish from the Sara Frances.