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Leading edge - USCG juggles assets for homeland security
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| 21 November 2005 |
By Katy Glassborow
Together, the impact of Hurricane Katrina and the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001 have put homeland security at the top of the US Coast Guard (USCG) agenda. Sector Commanders are now designated as Federal Maritime Security Coordinators for ports, pulling together resources from all other involved parties such as police and customs, and acting as the lead agency in building maritime domain awareness.
Operationally, the IMO's International Shipping and Port Facility Security Code -and its implementing law in the US, the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002 - empowered the USCG not only inspect foreign-flagged vessels for safety and environmental compliance, but also for security compliance. This increases the information inspectors need to acquire in regard to the 7,000-8,000 foreign-flagged ships that call on US ports each year.
This is quite a tall order for a force that has been battling against a fleet of ageing and technologically obsolete aircraft and surface platforms for more than a decade. The Integrated Deepwater System programme of the 1990s, designed to recapitalise assets, was already desperately needed even before the additional homeland security duties were enshrined, as current assets will reach the end of their projected service lives this decade, and the USCG is experiencing system failures at a steadily increasing rate.
Early in 2005, the DHS approved a revised Mission Need Statement and implementation plan that aligns the Deepwater Programme with the operational requirements of the USCG in the face of its new role. The revised implementation plan projects a USD24 billion, 25-year sustainment, modernisation and recapitalisation effort.
In the meantime, the USCG is working hard to boost its capabilities by capitalising on those of its partners. Captain Glen Wiltshire, Sector Commander for New York, says: "The acronym 'PWCS', for ports, waterways and coastal security, that was created after the terrorist attacks shows our duties extend beyond the sea buoy. We do not have all the assets we need to be everywhere all the time, but we have great partners.”
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