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U.S. 6th Fleet Stresses MDA to Ambassadors Aboard Roosevelt

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS060308-08
Release Date: 3/9/2006 12:30:00 AM

By Journalist 2nd Class (SW/AW) Kristine DeHoux, Naval Media Center Det. Rota

ROTA, Spain (NNS) -- Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet (C6F) Vice Adm. John Stufflebeem and a team of U.S. ambassadors visited Naval Station Rota, Spain, March 3 before boarding a C-2A Greyhound bound for USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN 71) where the group toured the ship and discussed Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA).

Accompanying Stufflebeem to the carrier were the U.S. ambassadors to Spain, Eduardo Aguirre; Portugal, Alfred Hoffman Jr.; and NATO, Victoria Nuland. The group joined Roosevelt as the aircraft carrier heads home from a six-month deployment in support of the war on terrorism.

“One of my responsibilities here in the 6th Fleet is to have people who understand what we’re trying to establish, which is MDA,” Stufflebeem said. “We’re trying to build the capacity for security rather than being an exporter and provider of security.

“The goal of MDA is to provide the world’s oceans and waterways the same level of security that can be found in the skies, which are supervised around the clock to secure airspaces and monitor the activities of civilian and military aircraft. The world’s oceans, however, are not fully monitored. This lack of capability has led to problems such as piracy, smuggling and terrorism,” said Stufflebeem.

The group talked about the tool that Roosevelt employed on the ship's recent deployment to help maintain MDA, the Automated Identification System (AIS).

The International Maritime Organization requires vessels greater than 65 feet to transmit AIS, a system that identifies and locates vessels that are broadcasting the AIS signal. Networking allows all partners to be part of a common operating picture and provides the ability for partners to engage law breakers when necessary.

Stufflebeem said that AIS is the means that C6F is promoting to reduce security risks like fisheries violations, piracy, oil theft, human trafficking and terrorism from the sea.

“These kinds of systems are available to foreign countries on their shores, so that they can now see what is going on in their littoral waters,” he said. “If all of us can share that picture, then we have the ability to understand better the security environment and protect those who would ship things to either our shores in the United States, or to their countries.”

According to Stufflebeem, working with the ambassadors on key issues such as MDA serves as a direct link to the decision-makers of America’s foreign partners.

“It’s important that we have that kind of support, and the ambassadors are key to do that,” said Stufflebeem.

The Spanish navy is already implementing AIS and hopes to collaborate with the United States on MDA within the year.

“A good recognized maritime picture is absolutely important, because it is a fundamental tool to support the global war on terrorism,” said Cmdr. Juan Ruiz, a Spanish navy intelligence officer who participated on the embark aboard the Roosevelt.

Ambassador Aguirre agreed, “We’ve got to make sure that our friends in this part of the world, certainly that includes the Spanish and Portuguese and many other countries, understand the value of MDA.”

Stufflebeem hopes to see more countries get onboard with AIS.

“It’s very important that they understand what it is that an AIS system brings in terms of awareness, and that through that awareness and knowledge comes security,” he said.