Ceremony Set for Joint Harbor Operations Center

Coast Guard Commandant Admiral Thad Allen, U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner Jayson Ahern, U.S. Navy Commander Submarine Group Trident, Rear Admiral Frank Drennan, and other dignitaries will be in attendance Wednesday at 10 a.m. for the Coast Guard Joint Harbor Operation Center (JHOC) ribbon cutting ceremony at Pier 36 here. The ceremony recognizes officially the operation of the JHOC. The JHOC is the home for Sector Seattle's Command Center, Communications Center and Vessel Traffic Center. The JHOC will be the premiere state-of-the-art maritime Command Center for the Pacific Northwest partnering Coast Guard with Navy, Washington State Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, various agencies of the Department of Homeland Security and State of Washington and local first responder agencies. The JHOC will serve as the nexus for marine operations, monitoring, overseeing and coordinating daily activities that ensure the maritime safety and security of the Puget Sound area. It will also facilitate planning, monitoring, and response to natural disasters, accidents or deliberate attacks that would affect ships, craft, or waterfront infrastructure within Puget Sound.

On a typical day, the JHOC may investigate a suspicious event onboard a Washington State Ferry, plan the offshore evacuation of an injured mariner, investigate a mystery oil spill or dispatch a crew to repair a malfunctioning navigation aid. The Puget Sound JHOC ensures efficient and effective coordination in the daily execution of collective Coast Guard, and other federal, as well as state and local agency mission goals to provide safety and security throughout Puget Sound. It also leverages technology and enhances relationships to provide best response to all hazard incidents in Puget Sound. The JHOC's unique blend of responsibilities ensures that in any type of all hazard event requiring collaboration between multiple port partners, all participants are engaged in developing courses of action and are aware of each other's actions during a critical time. Correction: Customs and Border Protection Commissioner W. Ralph Basham will not be attending the JHOC ceremony. In his place are the following scheduled guests; U.S. Customs and Border Protection Deputy Commissioner Jayson Ahern, U.S. Navy Commander Submarine Group Trident, Rear Admiral Frank Drennan, and other dignitaries.