Coast Guard Announces Latest Transportation Worker Identification Credential Compliance Ports, Dates

WASHINGTON (HQ Public Affairs) - The U.S. Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration announced Thursday that Nov. 28, 2008, is the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program compliance date for owners and operators of facilities located within the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Zones of Cape Fear River, N.C., Corpus Christi, Texas, North Carolina, and Port Arthur, Texas.

The Coast Guard plans to announce those additional ports scheduled for the compliance phase of the TWIC program in coming weeks. Compliance will be phased in by Captain of the Port Zones between Oct. 15, 2008 and April 15, 2009, after which all ports must be in compliance and all credentialed mariners must be in possession of a TWIC.

A framework showing expected compliance dates by Captain of the Port Zone is available on the U.S. Coast Guard’s Homeport Website at http://homeport.uscg.mil/twic.

Workers are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible and can pre-enroll for their TWIC online at www.tsa.gov/twic. Pre-enrollment speeds up the process by allowing workers to provide biographic information and to schedule a time to complete the application process in person. The pre-enrollment process reduces the time it takes to fully enroll in the TWIC program and eliminates waiting at enrollment centers.

“Facility owners and operators must ensure that those who need unescorted access to secure areas get their TWIC as soon as possible,” said Capt. Mark. P. O’Malley, Chief of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Office of Port and Facility Activities. “It is vital we work together to achieve this important port security initiative.”

TWIC was established in the Maritime Transportation Security Act and the Security and Accountability for Every Port Act to serve as an identification program for all Coast Guard credentialed mariners and personnel requiring unescorted access to secure areas within a port. The program is progressing steadily and has opened more than 138 fixed enrollment centers and dozens of mobile sites nationwide. More than 370,000 workers have enrolled to date and thousands more are processed each week.

Additional information can be found at http://homeport.uscg.mil/twic and www.tsa.gov/twic.

Coast Guard, Oak Bluffs police sign local agreement to enhance maritime safety and security

OAK BLUFFS, Mass. (D1 Public Affairs) - The Coast Guard and local law enforcement signed an agreement Monday to improve safety and security in and around Oak Bluffs Harbor.

The agreement, signed by Capt. Raymond J. Perry, the captain of the port for southeastern New England, and Erik G. Blake, Town of Oak Bluffs chief of police, provides the Oak Bluffs Police Department federal authority to enforce Coast Guard safety and security zones.

“The Coast Guard is fortunate to have the opportunity to work with such capable and knowledgeable local experts in the interest of public safety,” said Perry.

In the past, when local law enforcement agencies suspected someone of entering a safety or security zone, they were required to contact the Coast Guard before taking action. With this agreement, Oak Bluffs authorities are allowed to enforce these zones immediately on behalf of the Coast Guard.

The Coast Guard and Oak Bluffs law enforcement officers often collaborate on a range of maritime missions, including security for maritime events. Monday’s signing allows for more effective use of enforcement resources when the two agencies work together. The federal authority will be granted when the Oak Bluffs officers are participating in distinct Coast Guard operations that are approved by the sector commander.

The agreement went into effect immediately.

Coast Guard hosts Homeland Security Advisory Council visit

PORTSMOUTH, Va. - The Coast Guard hosted a Homeland Security Advisory Council visit today involving demonstrations of Coast Guard assets, units and capabilities at Integrated Support Command Portsmouth.

The event highlighted Coast Guard capabilities through demonstrations and tours from:

* Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane, homeported in Portsmouth
* Coast Guard Port Security Unit 305 from Fort Eustis, N.C.
* Marine Security and Response Team from Chesapeake, Va.
* Coast Guard Cutter Elm, homeported in Atlantic Beach, N.C.
* Station Little Creek, Va.

The HSAC toured the Coast Guard Cutter Harriet Lane and was briefed on its capabilities.

The PSU simulated a scenario, which highlighted its ability to maintain security checkpoints and respond to threats.

The MSRT performed a demonstration, which showed its capabilities for fast-rope decent and a hooking climb from a small boat onto the Coast Guard Cutter Elm. This demonstrated the MSRT’s ability to gain positive control of a boat in case of a threat or emergency.

Station Little Creek also provided the HSAC with the opportunity to ride in a 45-foot Response Boat - Medium, the newest small boat in the Coast Guard’s fleet.

The HSAC serves as an advisory body to the Secretary of Homeland Security, providing advice and recommendations independent from any organization of which the department consists.

Broadwater LNG Letter of Recommendation Signed

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - U.S. Coast Guard Captain Daniel Ronan, Captain of the Port of Long Island Sound, announced today he has signed the Letter of Recommendation (LOR) for Broadwater Energy, a joint development of Shell US Gas & Power, LLC and TransCanada Pipe Lines USA, LTD.

The Coast Guard completed its assessment of the waterway for the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility to be located in New York waters in the middle of Long Island Sound, and submitted its Waterways Suitability Report (WSR) to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in September 2006. During its review of the waterway, the Coast Guard consulted and worked with many state and local agencies along with port stakeholders and conducted a thorough risk assessment.

“The Coast Guard is neither an advocate for nor an opponent of the proposed LNG facility. The Coast Guard’s role is to provide an objective analysis to FERC of the associated maritime safety and security risks associated with the carriage of LNG along the carrier proposed route,” said Capt. Daniel Ronan, the Captain of the Port of Long Island Sound.

Based upon the record, the recommendation is that the waterway is not currently suitable, but can be made suitable for the LNG marine traffic along the carrier route associated with the proposed LNG terminal, if the risk mitigation measures detailed in the WSR are implemented. Furthermore, this recommendation is contingent upon resolution of the following issues, which are outside of the Coast Guard’s control:

(1) satisfactory completion of Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultations with the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Fish and Wildlife Service that result in a finding of “would not be likely to adversely affect Federally-listed species as the impacts would likely be insignificant or discountable;”

(2) satisfactory final consultations with the New York State Historic Preservation Office,
pursuant to the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (NHPA) and the New York State Historic Preservation Act of 1980 with respect to the status of Race Rock Light as a property on the National Register of Historic Properties;

(3) finally, in light of the pending New York State Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA) appeal filed by Broadwater, a finding by the Secretary of Commerce that the project is consistent with the objectives of the CZMA or a settlement agreement is reached between New York State and Broadwater on the CZMA issues.

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FERC is the lead federal agency responsible for approving the siting, design, and operation of LNG facilities located on the shore and within state waters. For further information on the permitting process for LNG facilities, please contact FERC’s public information office at (202) 502-6088.

To view the Coast Guard’s WSR, visit this link: http://www.uscg.mil/d1/Units/seclis/broadwater/broadwater.html

To view the Coast Guard’s LOR on Homeport, visit the link below and then click “Broadwater LNG” under the “Community Outreach” section.

http://homeport.uscg.mil/mycg/portal/ep/portDirectory.do?tabId=1&cotpId=31

For Coast Guard questions please contact Ensign John LaMorte at (203) 468-4412.

Port Agencies to Respond to Terrorist Threat During Exercise

LOS ANGELES (D11 Public Affairs) - Harbor residents of Los Angeles and Long Beach 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 Long Beach 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, Los Angeles Police and Fire Departments, Long Beach Police and Fire Departments, Los Angeles Port Police, Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach along with maritime industry will be participating in the joint agency exercise. Port facilities will also be testing their own security plans in response to a Coast Guard ordered increase of the Maritime Security (MARSEC) level.

“This exercise is the culmination of a triennial exercise cycle that gives port agencies and maritime industry the opportunity to test interagency coordination, communications, and plans,” said Lt. j.g. Andrew Muñoz spokesman for Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach. “The lessons learned from this exercise will be used to update the Area Maritime Security Plan and agency response plans.”

The Area Maritime Security Committee meets quarterly and is lead by the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port and FBI. The committee is composed of representatives from federal, state, and local first responders, maritime industry, and organized labor. The purpose of the committee is to maintain the Area Maritime Security Plan and coordinate exercises to test the plan.

The exercise is scheduled to begin the morning of Wednesday, June 25 and go through the afternoon of Thursday, June 26.

Coast Guard Establishes New Law Enforcement and Security Enlisted Rating

WASHINGTON (HQ Public Affairs) - Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Thad Allen announced Monday the approval of the establishment of a new enlisted rating for law enforcement and security as part of the Coast Guard’s continuing transformation to meet America’s maritime challenges.

“The establishment of an enlisted rating involving law enforcement and security duties will enhance our capabilities as America’s maritime guardian,” said Allen. “It further supports the Coast Guard’s modernization goal of making our force structure more responsive to mission execution across all aspects of maritime safety, security and stewardship.”

The law enforcement and security rating, approved by Allen June 6, integrates the port security specialist rating, which is filled by reservists only, with an active-duty counterpart. Fully establishing the new rating is expected to take 24 months. The Coast Guard’s current force structure will be enhanced as the new rate creates a core cadre of subject matter experts in support of unit performance across six of the Coast Guard’s 11 statutory missions. In doing so, the Coast Guard will improve its service to the American public, interagency partners and the maritime industry.

Security zone established for Rose Fest fleet visit

PORTLAND, Ore. - The Coast Guard will enforce and maintain a controlled access area on the Willamette River while Navy and Coast Guard vessels are tied up at the seawall between the Steel and Morrison Bridges throughout the fleet’s visit June 4-9.

Boaters who need to pass through the controlled access area must contact the Coast Guard security escort vessel on VHF-FM channel 16.

Commercial vessels have made special transit arrangements with the Captain of the Port, Portland, prior to this year’s Fleet Week.

All boaters, kayakers, personal watercraft operators and canoeists are asked to avoid the security zone altogether. However, if a boater does need to transit the controlled access area, they may experience a waiting period.

Those wishing to transit the security zone must follow these simple rules:

• No firearms permitted inside the controlled access area.
• Boaters wishing to transit the controlled access area are required to wait in pre-identified staging areas for official patrol escorts.
• Staging areas are located on the east side of the river just north of the Steel Bridge and just south of the Morrison Bridge.
• Delays are expected and vessels may be boarded before being escorted through the controlled access area. Please plan accordingly.
• While transiting the controlled access area, all vessels shall operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course and shall proceed as directed by the official Coast Guard Auxiliary patrol escort.
• Vessels will follow the official Coast Guard Auxiliary patrol escort in a single file line and must stay to the east bank of the river. Do not break away from the escort line.

Violations of a controlled access area may result in a penalty action under the provision of 33 USC 1231 (maximum fine of $37,500).

Additional information about Fleet Week and Rose Fest can be found at: http://www.rosefestival.org/events/fleet/

Coast Guard findings suggest safe port, good agency cooperation

BOSTON - Following an inspection of scores of shipping containers, the Coast Guard today reports findings consistent with a compliant and safe shipping industry in the port of Boston.

The Coast Guard and nearly two dozen other federal, state and local agencies joined Thursday at four high-traffic shipping points in Boston in search of dangerous cargo inside inter-modal containers. Two teams situated at weigh stations north and south of the city on Interstate 95 inspected containers on trucks. Another team was located at the Brighton Rail Yard, and a fourth at the Conley Marine Terminal. The teams inspected a total of 105 containers and found no safety or security violations.

The one-day, multi-agency strike force operation (MASFO) focused on ensuring safe shipment of hazardous materials, with minimum disruption to commerce. Inspectors opened the containers to ensure the contents, ranging from washing machines to treated cow hides, were packaged, loaded and documented as regulated by the International Convention of Safe Containers.

Further, since the operation included numerous agencies spanning multiple jurisdictions, it gave them the chance to focus on integrated operations.

“The overall goal of the MASFO is to facilitate inter-agency cooperation in the regulation of inter-modal containers, and to promote a safe and secure port,” said Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Heidi Miller, assistant waterways management chief at Sector Boston.