SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Area Maritime Security Committee met to conduct a port-level maritime homeland security exercise Wednesday at the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Office in Sorrento Valley.
The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 requires all Captains of the Port and Area Maritime Security Committees to ensure that exercises are carried out once each calendar year to test the effectiveness of the Area Maritime Security Plan to ensure the safety and security of the port.
The table top exercise is part of Exercise Bay Shield and focused on the San Diego Area Maritime Security Plan, response to a possible weapon of mass destruction in the port of San Diego and the cooperation of local agencies and port stakeholders in responding to an emergency in the harbor. The one-day exercise focused on awareness, prevention and protection during a maritime transportation incident. This exercise allowed more than 15 agencies to discuss response protocols, ensure alignment of all agency plans for response and recovery, and foster working relationships among member agencies and other port partners.
A functional exercise is scheduled to take place next year as part of the Bay Shield series of progressive exercises.
PARTICIPATING AGENCIES
• U.S. Coast Guard
• Federal Bureau of Investigation
• California Office of Emergency Services
• California National Guard
• Customs and Border Protection
• Commander, Navy Region Southwest
• Naval Criminal Investigation Service
• Port of San Diego
• San Diego County Office of Emergency Services
• City of San Diego Office of Homeland Security
• San Diego Harbor Police
• San Diego Police Department
• San Diego Fire/Rescue Department
• Coronado Police Department
• American Red Cross
• Transportation Security Administration
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
• Other Maritime Industry Members
