19 April 2004
U.S. Coast Guard to Help Evaluate Security in Foreign Ports
Aim is to implement international maritime security code, it says
The United States says it plans to work with its maritime trading partners to facilitate the implementation of an international security code aimed at protecting the global shipping industry from terrorist threats.
In an April 15 news release, the U.S. Coast Guard said that over the next few months it will send teams to countries around the world to help them evaluate their compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, which will enter into force on July 1. The Coast Guard also will share information about best practices and provide technical assistance, if necessary, to help countries with compliance, it said.
The United States is offering to reciprocate and invite officials from other countries to visit U.S. ports and evaluate how those facilities are fulfilling code requirements, the agency said.
In a separate news release issued the same day, the Coast Guard said that, starting July 1, it will board every ship on its first visit to a U.S. port and track all ships coming from non-compliant ports or countries that are not signatories of the code. The Coast Guard can deny entry into U.S. territorial waters as a security measure, it added.
Following are the texts of the news releases:
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U.S. Department of Homeland Security
United States Coast Guard
April 15, 2004
COAST GUARD TO BEGIN INTERNATIONAL PORT SECURITY VISITS
WASHINGTON --- The U.S. Coast Guard today announced the establishment of an International Port Security Program that will help the United States and its maritime trading partners better protect the global shipping industry by facilitating the implementation of security improvements in ports around the world. The Coast Guard plans to begin the program with visits to countries this summer and fall.
"Shipping is a global industry and the economy of nearly every nation relies on overseas trade," said Adm. Thomas H. Collins, commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard. "By helping other nations evaluate security measures in their ports, we can help to ensure the safety and security of the global maritime transportation system."
Under this effort, the Coast Guard and the host nations will work jointly to evaluate the countries' overall compliance with the International Ship and Port Facility Security Code, an international agreement signed in December 2002 that will enter into full force on July 1. In addition, the Coast Guard will provide assistance with interpretation of the international code, as it has already done through discussions with representatives from over 50 nations. The Coast Guard is working very closely with Customs and Border Protection to ensure that this program, the Container Security Initiative and other programs are developed and executed in harmony.
Key elements of the International Port Security Program include:
-- A traveling team that will visit approximately 45 countries each year.
-- International Port Security Liaison Officers that will be stationed around the world to share information on best practices and to provide assistance to the traveling team.
The traveling team and liaison officers will:
-- Meet with appropriate national authorities to discuss the nation's maritime security regime and its interpretation and implementation of the international code.
-- Jointly visit representative ports within the country to view implementation
-- Jointly verify with the host nation the effectiveness of the country's approval process for port facility and vessel security assessments and plans required under the international code.
-- Provide technical assistance as necessary to assist countries with compliance
-- Share information about best practices, both from within the country and around the world.
The Coast Guard will use the information gained from these visits to improve our own security practices and to determine if additional security precautions will be required for vessels arriving in the United States from other countries.
Vessels that make port calls at countries that are not participants or that are not in compliance with the requirements of the international code could be delayed when attempting to enter a U.S. port as a result of additional enforcement actions.
The enforcement actions could include:
-- Boarding the vessel at sea prior to entry into port
-- Controlling the vessel's movement with armed escorts
-- Conducting a comprehensive security inspection at the dock or at sea
-- Denying entry into U.S. waters
These measures will remain in place until the country demonstrates compliance.
The Coast Guard invites officials from other nations for reciprocal visits to the United States and select ports to observe the Coast Guard's procedures for implementing the international code.
This program is part of efforts within the Department of Homeland Security to develop and enhance international partnerships in order to create a more secure global shipping community, including U.S. Customs and Border Protection's (CBP) Container Security Initiative (CSI).
CSI and this new Coast Guard program will complement each other. Under CSI, CBP has stationed officers in 18 major foreign ports, and is working side-by-side with foreign customs authorities to identify and target cargo containers that could present a potential risk for terrorism. The foreign customs authorities then inspect those containers for possible terrorist weapons before the containers are placed on ships bound for the United States. CBP officers observe these inspections. The International Port Security Program will focus on improving the security of the vessels and port facilities that transport, stow, and handle cargo and people, including CSI containers.
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U.S. Department of Homeland Security
United States Coast Guard
April 15, 2004
UPDATE: COAST GUARD PREPARING FOR JULY 1 MARITIME SECURITY DEADLINE
WASHINGTON --- The U.S. Coast Guard is rapidly preparing for a July 1 deadline that will see vast changes to the security climate in ports, port facilities and vessels around the world.
A new international code and U.S. law requires vessels and facilities implement security measures designed to protect the world's global shipping industry from terrorist attacks. The International Ship and Port Facility Security Code and the Maritime Transportation Security Act require ports and vessels to control access, monitor activity, and screen personnel, baggage, cargo, and vehicles.
Under the U.S. law and the international code, port facilities and vessels must implement the new security measures by July 1. Some of the key milestones leading up to this deadline include:
-- Security plans received from 99 percent of required U.S. vessels and facilities
-- Alternative Security Programs used by two-thirds of the vessels that submitted plans
-- Initial reviews completed on most facility and vessel plans
-- Area Maritime Security Committees established in all U.S. port areas.
The Coast Guard is also preparing to verify international compliance with the new requirements by:
-- Boarding every vessel, at sea or at the dock, on its first visit to a U.S. port on or after July 1;
-- Taking additional security precautions or denying entry into U.S. waters for non-compliant vessels on a case by case basis;
-- Tracking vessels coming from non-compliant ports. Those vessels may be subject to delays until their security status can be verified through a Coast Guard boarding;
-- Visiting countries to evaluate antiterrorism measures in their ports with the host nation and;
-- Exchanging information with and providing training to foreign countries to assist with interpretation and implementation of the international code.
More information can be found in press releases issued on April 14; February 4; Dec. 12, 2003; Oct. 23, 2003; and July 1, 2003,at http://www.uscg.mil/news/Headquarters/WashingtonDC.htm, and on the Coast Guard's port security website at: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/mp/index.shtml.
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(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
This page printed from: http://usinfo.state.gov/xarchives/display.html?p=washfile-english&y=2004&m=April&x=20040419123733SAikceinawz0.3718531&t=livefeeds/wf-latest.html
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