CHICAGO – U.S. Coast Guard Marine Safety Unit Chicago hosted a multi-agency maritime law enforcement exercise here, Wednesday, aboard the Columbia Yacht Club’s motor vessel Abegweit.
Officers and agents from the Chicago Police Department, Chicago Police Marine Unit, Environmental Protection Agency Criminal Investigation Division, Customs Border Protection and Federal Emergency Management Agency joined Coast Guard personnel in practicing response techniques and procedures aboard the permanently moored 372-foot Canadian passenger vessel.
Participants prepared for the exercise with classroom training on topics including the National Response framework, nautical nomenclature, Coast Guard authority and jurisdiction, and tactical procedures. During the exercise, participants successfully completed a number of complex scenarios and shared best practices.
“The training opportunity was a huge success for the Chicagoland law enforcement community and helped develop valuable partnerships,” said CDR Paul Mahler III, Commanding Officer of MSU Chicago.
