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U.S. Coast Guard International Training Programs
The Coast Guard International Training Division (ITD) from Training Center Yorktown deploys teams worldwide and each fiscal year trains over 2000 international students in over 65 countries on Coast Guard missions, including maritime security related topics. Training is coordinated with the host nation and with the respective U.S. Embassy. Primary sources of funding include programs such as Department of State International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL), or Security Assistance Programs of International Military Education and Training (IMET), the Regional Defense Counter Terrorism Fellowship Program (RDCTFP), Foreign Military Financing (FMF), and Foreign Military Sales (FMS).
The Coast Guard ITD also includes the International Maritime Officer School, which provides maritime law enforcement and maritime security training to international students. In addition, there are three courses designed especially for international officers: the International Maritime Officer Course (IMOC), the International Crisis Command and Control Course (ICCC), and the International Leadership and Management Seminar (ILAMS).
Exportable International Training
Contact: CDR Matt Creelman
E-mail : mcreelman@tcyorktown.uscg.mil
Phone: 757-856-2295
Contact: LCDR Charles Caruolo (G-CI)
Phone: 202-267-2555
E-mail: ccaruolo@comdt.uscg.mil
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum
The U.S. government works in APEC, comprising 21 economies on the Pacific Rim, to facilitate trade and investment and enhance security against terrorist threats. Member economies have agreed to: implement a container security regime; implement the common standards for electronic customs reporting developed by the World Customs Organization; promote private-sector adoption of supply chain security; and assure integrity of officials involved in border operations.
Contact: U.S. Customs and Border Protection/Eileen McLucas
Phone: 202-344-3553
E-mail: eileen.mclucas@dhs.gov
The U.S. government also works with APEC in assisting its member economies to implement the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, through training, technical assistance, and capacity-building programs.
Contact: Department of Homeland Security/Transportation Security
Administration/Patrick Burns
Phone: 571-227-1223
E-mail: Patrick.Burns@dhs.gov
Group of Eight (G8)
Within the G8 Lyon-Roma Group, the United States has developed a methodology and checklist for the auditing of port and maritime security. This proposal has been adopted by the International Maritime Organization as an international self-assessment checklist.
Contact: Department of State/INL/PC/Scott Harris
Phone: 202-647-0458
E-mail: HarrisST@state.gov
Organization of American States (OAS)
The U.S. Maritime Administration (MARAD), the Department of Homeland Security, and the U.S. Permanent Mission to the OAS help OAS member states enhance passenger and cargo security at their ports through the Inter-American Port Security Training Program. By helping them comply with the International Shipping and Port Security Code and related security agreements, this program improves the safety of American citizens and shippers. It reduces the vulnerability of regional ports and cruise ships to terrorist attack and of shippers to the threat of unconventional weapons being placed in their containers. (Through the Maritime Transportation Act of 2002, the U.S. Congress stipulated that the MARAD/OAS Inter-American Port Security Training Program be the model for international training.)
Contact: Department of State/U.S. Mission to the OAS/Sergio Garcia
Phone: 202-647-9914
E-mail: garciasa2@state.gov
Enduring Friendship
Enduring Friendship is a U.S. Southern Command (SOUTHCOM) initiative focused on accomplishing three of SOUTHCOM's four main Theater Strategy elements in the Caribbean, Central and South America - building regional cooperative security; developing roles and missions for the 21st century; and, supporting the national counter-terrorism/drug policy. Enduring Friendship is a voluntary program aimed at synchronizing multinational operational maritime forces of the Americas to assist with security against transnational and asymmetrical maritime threats, such as drug and weapon trafficking, terrorism, uncontrolled migration, fish poaching and other threats to maritime life, hazards to navigation, and humanitarian emergencies. Two major changes that Enduring Friendship seeks to enact are a reduced pressure on U.S. assets in the Caribbean Basin and expanding the maritime capabilities of our partner nations to make them more self- and mutually-reliant.
Contact: SOUTHCOM CDR Ike Clark
Phone: 305-437-1516
E-mail: clarkw@hg.southcom.mil
B. In Transit
Operation Safe Commerce (OSC)
Operation Safe Commerce (OSC) is the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) primary supply chain security test and deployment program. It is a partnership between the U.S. government, the three largest U.S. container ports (ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, ports of Seattle and Tacoma and the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey) and the maritime industry. Its goal is to improve the security of containerized cargo movements by testing commercial technology and business process solutions. It is a critical component of DHS' efforts in cargo security.
The Department of Homeland Security's Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness (SLGCP), Office of Domestic Preparedness manages, monitors and provides support to the Operation Safe Commerce program in coordination with an interagency executive steering committee (Departments of Transportation, State and Commerce; United States Coast Guard, United States Customs and Border Protection, Border and Transportation Security Directorate; and the Transportation Security Administration).
Operation Safe Commerce does not conflict or impinge upon any existing governmental initiatives. It is a government sponsored cooperative agreement grant program established to provide a test bed to examine methods to improve supply chain security. This public-private partnership does not impose either voluntary or mandatory practices or regulations on industry. Its intent, in part, is to assist in identifying best practices in supply chain security. Operation Safe Commerce is a finite project.
Contact: Department of Homeland Security/Transportation Security Administration/Ken Concepcion
Phone: 202-786-9512
E-mail: kenneth.concepcion@dhs.gov
Smart Box Initiative
The Smart Box technology involves an imbedded, electronic container security device that helps U.S. authorities to determine whether a container has been opened or tampered with at any point along its journey.
Contact: Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Protection/Office of Field Operations
Phone: 202-344-1180
Fax: 202-344-1435
The Automated Targeting System (ATS)
With input from the intelligence community, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uses this rules-based system to perform transactional risk assessments and evaluate potential national security risks posed by cargo and passengers before they arrive in the United States.
Contact: Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Protection/Office of Field Operations
Phone: 202-344-1180
Fax: 202-344-1435
96-Hour Advance Notice of Arrival
In order to determine which vessels require additional attention, including at-sea boarding or escort during transits of U.S. waters, the U.S. Coast Guard requires that all ships provide detailed information on the crew, passenger, cargo, and voyage history 96 hours before arriving in a U.S. port. In addition to analyzing this information, the U.S. Coast Guard reviews previous security problems with the vessel or illegal activity on the part of the crew, as well as the security environment in previous ports of call.
Contact: Department of Homeland Security/U.S. Coast Guard/LT Craig Toomey
Phone: 202-267-0476
Fax: 202-267-0506
E-mail: cstoomey@comdt.uscg.mil
Advance Passenger Information System Rule (APIS)
In April 2005, CBP published a final APIS rule which requires all commercial vessels to submit electronic crewmember and passenger manifests up to 96 hours in advance of arrival into, and 15 minutes in advance of departure from, the United States. These electronic manifests are veiled through law enforcement databases that include the terrorists watch lists. This rule allows the Department of Homeland Security to identify known/suspected terrorists prior to their arrival and departure from the U.S. It also supports U.S. Coast Guard analysis with its 96-Hour Rule.
Contact: Department of Homeland Security/Customs and Border Protection/Office of Field Operations
Phone: 202-344-1180
Fax: 202-344-1435
Ship Security Alert System (SSAS)
SSAS allows a vessel operator to send a covert alert to shore for incidents involving acts of violence, such as piracy or terrorism. The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code requires new passenger and cargo ships of at least 500 gross tons to install this equipment by July 1 , 2004. Existing passenger vessels and cargo vessels must have the equipment installed prior to the first radio survey after July 1, 2004, or by July 1, 2006. Other types of vessels may carry and use SSAS voluntarily.
Contact: Department of Homeland Security/U. S. Coast Guard/LT Craig Toomey
Phone: 202-267 0476
Fax: 202-267-0506
E-mail: cstoomey@comdt.uscg.mil
Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Preparedness and Response Act of 2002 (The Bioterrorism Act)
This act requires that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) receive prior notification of all FDA regulated human and animal food, as well as dietary supplements imported or offered for import to the United States beginning on December 12, 2003. It also requires that all facilities that manufacture, process, pack or hold food for consumption in the U.S. be registered with the FDA. This registration requirement for foreign facilities is primarily enforced through the prior notice provision. The act also authorizes the FDA to detain an article of food for which there is credible evidence or information indicating such article presents a threat of serious adverse health consequences or death to humans or animals. This authority provides an added measure to ensure the safety of the nation's food supply.
Contact: U.S. Food and Drug Administration/Rules and Regulations (Prior notice Center)
Phone: Joe McCallion: 301-443-6553; Ted Poplawski: 301-443-6553;
Registration: 301-575-0156
E-mail: Ted.Poplawski@fda.gov
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