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Port Security Unit Demonstrates Capabilities at Seal Beach

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS050131-12
Release Date: 2/1/2005 8:30:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd Class Brian Brannon, Fleet Public Affairs Center, San Diego

NAVAL WEAPONS STATION SEAL BEACH, Calif. (NNS) -- Sailors from Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit (MIUWU) 105 demonstrated their ability to track surface and subsurface contacts during a training exercise Jan. 20-22 at Anaheim Bay in Seal Beach.

Utilizing radar, sonar, video and infrared devices, the unit stood watch for ships, boats, submarines or swimmers that entered the vicinity.

Fire Controlman 2nd Class Victor Arevalo said the exercise allowed the unit to practice everything from communications and tactics to logistics and emergency medical response.

"We covered all aspects of the training," he said. "We have some new people, so you train them up. And for people that are already trained, we refresh our skills."

Anaheim Bay is the seaward entrance to Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach. It also serves as the entrance to Huntington Harbour for civilian boaters and is in proximity to the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles.

Cmdr. Craig S. Soer, commanding officer of MIUWU 105, said the location provided the unit an excellent opportunity to hone the skills necessary to track incoming and outgoing contacts, and respond to any contingency.

"Being here on the weapons station allows us a good harbor for training purposes," he said. "It gives us the ability to simulate real world conditions."

The mission of the MIUWU is to protect high value assets, including harbors and ports, warships, oil tankers, personnel and coastal bases. The reserve organization is a part of Naval Coastal Warfare Squadron 34, based at Seal Beach.

The unit utilizes a Portable Sensor Platform with radar, electronic surveillance measures and communications that can upload data to a Radar Sonar Surveillance Central (RSSC) unit, which provides comprehensive graphic interpretation of the data.
A Mobile Sensor Platform with radar, camera and forward-looking infrared devices also supplies data to the RSSC. The MIUWU can then share that information with other units worldwide.

Lt. j.g. Chris Dorner said Inshore Boat Unit (IBU) 16 normally provides security for MIUWU 105, sending boats out to challenge any potential threats the unit detects. "They're our first line of defense," he said.

However, due to a training commitment, IBU 16 was unavailable for this exercise, so Coast Guard Port Security Unit (PSU) 311 provided security instead.

Dorner said he was impressed by the Coast Guard unit's competence and professionalism.

"I enjoyed working with them," he said. "They're a good group."

MIUWU 105 was mobilized in 2002 to provide port security for the Port of San Diego as part of Operation Noble Eagle. The unit is currently preparing for an Annual Training exercise in Korea.