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55-536: The eleven statutory missions as defined by law are divided into homeland security missions and non-homeland security missions. Non-homeland security missions include: Marine safety , search and rescue , aids to navigation , living marine resources ( fisheries law enforcement), marine environmental protection , and ice operations Homeland security missions include: Ports, waterways, and coastal security (PWCS); drug interdiction ; migrant interdiction ; defense readiness; and other law enforcement . A given unit within

110-554: A container ship in New Jersey based on intelligence information and because the inspectors detected radiation in the vessel. The cargo turned out to be ceramic tiles. See also: Port State Control See above under U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone and Living Marine Resource The Coast Guard is the only one of the armed services that has an enlisted rate for environmental technician. [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of

165-428: A Certificate of Inspection; this indicates the crews of such vessels have undergone drug testing, that the vessel's firefighting and lifesaving equipment is adequate and in good condition, and machinery, hull construction, wiring, stability, safety railings, and navigation equipment meet Federal standards. The Coast Guard performs its marine safety mission by conducting the following activities: The Coast Guard, through

220-811: A helicopter that fired at and disabled the vessel's engine. Another vessel with 2,600 pounds (1,200 kg) of cocaine was also seized. The Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron (HITRON) is based in Jacksonville, Florida . HITRON flew armed Agusta MH-68A Stingray helicopters from December 2000 until February 2008. At that time, HITRON took on the mantle of the Atlantic Area Deployment Center, and began flying MH-65C Multi-mission Cutter Helicopters (MCH) . Since its foundation in 1998 and formal commissioning, it has participated in 157 separate go-fast boat interdictions. The Posse Comitatus Act and related policies generally prohibit

275-533: A large area. Helicopters and rescue swimmers participated in the 36-hour rescue of six crew members from the 570-foot (170 m) tanker Bow Mariner , which exploded and sank off of Chincoteague, Virginia , on February 28, 2004. Two rescue swimmers were awarded the Coast Guard Medal for their efforts to keep the rescued mariners alive. Another large-scale operation took place in December 2004 in

330-689: A problem for shipping. In 1833, the Lady of the Lake struck an iceberg and sank with the loss of 70 lives. Between 1882 and 1890, four more cargo vessels were sunk and 40 more damaged. Following the sinking of the RMS ; Titanic in April 1912, an international conference of major Atlantic maritime powers agreed to fund USCG patrols to locate and report icebergs in the North Atlantic, in particular off

385-544: A red canton with 13 white stars around a fouled (entangled or twisted) anchor. The body of the flag contains 13 vertical blue and white stripes. This flag was designed by Roger Upton and Charles F. Chapman for the United States Power Squadrons, and by 1915, the flag was officially adopted by the organization. The design and other specifications of this ensign are described in the USPS bylaws and also in

440-556: A safe, secure, efficient and environmentally sound waterways system by providing marine safety information to the public, processing marine event permits, bridge administration and marine transportation system services. The port safety function has a long history in the Coast Guard. It was expanded during the 20th century to include the protection of ports, harbors, vessels, and waterfront facilities against accidents, negligence, and sabotage. These responsibilities have been assigned to

495-419: A vessel safety check, a qualified USPS vessel examiner will board vessels (with permission) and check for the presence and condition of various pieces of equipment required by federal and state laws for the safe operation of that particular vessel. A vessel safety check is provided at no charge and is not a law enforcement boarding. If the boat carries the proper equipment, a sticker will be awarded to display on

550-468: A voyage and order a recreational boat to return to port . Auxiliarists also visit marine dealers and retailers to ensure that an updated schedule of all public education courses and VSC stations with contact phone numbers is displayed at the marine dealer, as well as other Coast Guard publications on recreational boating safety and federal boating laws. Icebergs off the Grand Banks have always posed

605-997: Is collated in the National Vessel Movement Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, and shared with U.S. Naval Intelligence in Suitland, Maryland as well as with the Port State Control (PSC) offices in major ports throughout the United States. From there, the Captain of the Port or his representatives in the PSC determines if the vessel involved needs a security exam, a safety exam, or both. Vessels must be examined every 6 months. In September 2002, Coast Guard Port State Control Examiners searched

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660-560: Is responsible for the security of 361 U.S. ports and 95,000 statute miles (150,000 km) of waterways. The local Coast Guard commander has legal authority over shipping in American waters as Captain of the Port . This role has increased in importance since the Sept. 11 attacks. The Captain of the Port can declare inland waters in his jurisdiction to be "special security zones", wherein commercial vessels must report their movements to

715-506: Is the largest mission performed by Prevention Departments at Coast Guard Sectors . Coast Guard personnel that contribute to the marine safety program at field units are eligible to earn the Marine Safety Insignia . The Coast Guard is responsible for inspecting vessels (e.g., boats or ships ) that are registered in the United States or are foreign ships in U.S. waters. The Coast Guard delegates this responsibility to

770-507: Is the lead federal agency for at-sea enforcement of U.S. fisheries laws. The Coast Guard's legal authority to enforce fisheries laws flows from the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act of 1976 , which extended U.S. authority over fisheries to the 200 miles (370.4 kilometers) authorized by international law. Their missions include: Law and treaty enforcement account for about 1/3 of

825-488: The Aleutian Islands , when the cargo ship Selendang Ayu , of Malaysian registry, broke in two in heavy seas. The Selendang Ayu carried soybeans , 424,000 gallons (1,600 m³) of fuel oil, and 18,000 gallons (68 m³) of diesel. The operation saved 12 of the ship's 18 crew members and prevented harm to nearby wildlife. Six of the ship's crew members died when a Coast Guard HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter crashed during

880-606: The COTP primarily through the Ports and Waterways Safety Act of 1972. This Act resulted from several major groundings and oil spills and provided port safety authority for the COTP to protect the use of port transportation facilities, and to enhance efforts against the degradation of the marine environment. The port safety mission is primarily concerned with the prevention of accidental damage to ports, facilities, and ships in order to protect

935-640: The Department of Defense branches of the United States armed forces from enforcing U.S. laws, but these restrictions do not apply to the U.S. Coast Guard. The Coast Guard provides Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDETs) to U.S. Navy ships and the LEDETs do the actual boarding, interdiction and arrests with the assistance of the Navy. The Coast Guard, especially its Florida-based Seventh District, enforces U.S. immigration law at sea. Major areas of operations are off

990-952: The International Ice Patrol headquarters in Groton, Connecticut . Officers assigned to the IIP are required to hold not only a security clearance, but possess at least a master's degree in Marine science . The Coast Guard maintains the DGPS radio navigation system, as well as buoys , daymarks , and other visual aids to navigation [ATONs] in U.S. waters and in selected foreign waters—a major activity of Coast Guard buoy tenders, and of special Auxiliary patrols . The Coast Guard has three large icebreakers , and many cutters can clear ice-clogged waterways for essential seagoing traffic . Maritime security missions are coordinated through

1045-787: The July 7, 2005 London bombings , Coast Guard units were placed on a higher level of alert . Coast Guard helicopters enforce temporary flight restriction zones in rotary wing air intercept missions with the North American Air Defense Command , the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the United States Secret Service . As part of the Coast Guard's Deepwater program, cutters will carry 70 unarmed surveillance unmanned aerial vehicles . The Coast Guard

1100-529: The National Oil and Hazardous Substances Pollution Contingency Plan . According to Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations , vessels entering American waters must provide in advance to the Coast Guard data about the ship's cargo, the names and passport numbers of each crew member, details about the ship's ownership and agents, and a list of recent port calls in a "Notice of Arrival" form. This information

1155-733: The North Pole . This was the beginning of an expanded mission for the Coast Guard in the Arctic based on recently observed climate changes . Rear Admiral Arthur Brooks, commander of the 17th District in Juneau, stated "The primary change in the Arctic is that for 150 years we have done exploration and research. The change that we now must prepare to do all Coast Guard missions in the Arctic , including maritime surveillance." Marine pollution occurs not only through carelessness, but through accident. In

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1210-842: The Officer in Charge, Marine Inspection . Inspections are done either under Flag State responsibility or Port State responsibility. The four basic categories of vessels subject to inspection are: There are two kinds of inspections: Safety and Security. Inspections of vessel safety systems includes the following: Inspections of vessel security systems includes the following: The Coast Guard investigates marine casualties and allegations of improper Merchant Mariner actions to determine cause, and to prevent future occurrences under its Marine Safety mission . There are two kinds of investigations: Marine casualty investigations, and personnel actions. Marine casualty investigations are carried out for

1265-697: The Royal Canadian Mounted Police began a program called "Shiprider", in which a 12 Mounties from the RCMP detachment at Windsor and 16 Coast Guard boarding officers from stations in Michigan ride in each other's vessels. The intent is to allow for seamless enforcement of the international border. The Coast Guard is the lead agency in maritime drug interdiction. It shares legal responsibility with U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Coast Guard units coordinate their Caribbean Sea activities with

1320-747: The Super Bowl , national political conventions , and Independence Day celebrations. Such patrols were provided during the 2004 Republican Party national convention in New York City; the June 2004 G8 Summit at Sea Island, Georgia near Savannah, Ga.; and the January 20, 2005, presidential inauguration in the Potomac and Anacostia rivers of Washington, D.C.; and the funeral of former President Gerald R. Ford in January, 2007. In addition, following

1375-620: The U.S. Navy 's Naval Coastal Warfare Squadrons (NCWRONs), part of the Naval Coastal Warfare command structure. Coast Guard members assigned to NCWRONs have served in the Persian Gulf, the Balkans, Korea and elsewhere around the world. Both PSUs and NCWRONs are primarily staffed by Reserve personnel. Another element in security are Maritime Safety and Security Teams . In 2006, the U.S. Coast Guard's Ninth District and

1430-782: The U.S. Navy , the Royal Navy , and the Royal Netherlands Navy . Coast Guard missions were responsible for about 52% of the cocaine seized by the U.S. government in 2002. For example, in February 2004, the USCGC Hamilton (WHEC-715), based in San Diego, California, operating north of the Galapagos Islands , seized 6,000 pounds (2,700 kg) of cocaine from a vessel. The Hamilton launched

1485-729: The USCGC Midgett (WHEC 726) deployed to the Pacific and Indian Ocean as part of the USS Boxer (LHD 4) Expeditionary Strike Group, where it cross-trained with the Indian Coast Guard cutter Samar . In July 2007, Coast Guardsmen, attached to the Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) out of Honolulu, Hawaii, and U.S. Navy Sailors, embarked aboard the dock-landing ship USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49), took part of

1540-514: The United States and in some US territories . It is the largest U.S. non-profit boating organization and has been honored by three U.S. presidents for its civic contributions . Its official publication is The Ensign magazine. There are many educational opportunities available within the United States Power Squadrons. USPS offers courses that teach basic knowledge necessary to operate boats safely and legally. The basic course meets

1595-767: The United States Air Force as the federal agency responsible for inland SAR. Both agencies maintain Rescue Coordination Centers to coordinate this effort. Inshore rescues are usually performed by 25-foot, 29-foot, 45-foot, and 47-foot boats. HH-60 and HH-65 helicopters serve on both the high seas and inshore. Any Coast Guard asset in the vicinity of a case may respond. Search and rescue operations are numerous and varied. A sample of operations in February 2005 included: Large-scale search and rescue operations occur less frequently, but often involve many Coast Guard vessels and aircraft from

1650-558: The United States Coast Guard . Marine safety (USCG) Marine safety is one of the eleven missions of the United States Coast Guard . Coast Guard personnel inspect commercial vessels, respond to pollution, investigate marine casualties and merchant mariners, manage waterways, and license merchant mariners. Coast Guard officials also draft recommendations for the transit of hazardous cargo by ship, such as liquid natural gas . In addition to this mission,

1705-447: The United States Coast Guard . United States Power Squadrons The United States Power Squadrons ( USPS ) also known as America's Boating Club, is a non-profit educational organization, founded in 1914, whose mission is to improve maritime safety and enjoyability through classes in seamanship , navigation , and other related subjects . The USPS comprises approximately 45,000 members organized into 450 squadrons across

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1760-825: The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary , along with the United States Power Squadrons , perform Vessel Safety Checks (VSC) on recreational boaters throughout the country. Qualified Vessel Safety Check inspectors check for proper registration, an adequate number and type of personal flotation devices (PFDs), loaded fire extinguishers, and the ability to send a distress signal, either visibly by flare or flag, or by radio. Although Auxiliarist and United States Power Squadron VSC inspectors do not have law enforcement authority, Coast Guardsmen can issue citations to vessels without adequate equipment, and in extraordinary cases terminate

1815-1144: The Coast Guard Office of Law Enforcement, which is part of the Operations Directorate headquartered in Washington, D.C. Immediately after the September 11, 2001 attacks , the Coast Guard imposed restrictions on traffic in American waters. Vessels over 300 tons displacement must file notice within 96 hours of estimated time of arrival in American waters, or 24 hours for short voyages. Liquefied natural gas carriers are forbidden to enter American waters without escort and to anchor near major cities. Coast Guard and Auxiliary units patrol key harbors and waterfronts and intercept foreign merchant vessels for identification and crew checks. The Coast Guard stepped up patrols in waters near New York City and Washington in 2004 after receiving reports of increased threats . Maritime security patrols increase in number and intensity around special events, such as

1870-433: The Coast Guard carries out investigations to determine the cause of accidents on American-flagged ( Flag State ) ships or foreign ships in American waters ( Port State ). Among the activities of the Coast Guard is inspection of commercial boats carrying passengers for hire. Vessels carrying more than six passengers must show a Certificate of Inspection; this indicates the crews of such vessels have undergone drug testing, that

1925-570: The Coast Guard may be carrying out several missions at once. For example, a 25-foot (7.6 m) RHIB assigned to maritime security may also watch for out-of-place or missing aids to navigation, pollution, and unsafe boating practices. Search and Rescue (SAR) is one of the Coast Guard's oldest missions. The National Search and Rescue Plan designates the United States Coast Guard as the federal agency responsible for maritime SAR operations in U.S. and international waters, and

1980-517: The Coast Guard's budget. Title 14, U.S. Code, Section 2 states: "The Coast Guard shall enforce or assist in the enforcement of all applicable laws on, under and over the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States." During wartime, by order of the President, the Coast Guard can fall under the operational orders of the Department of the Navy . In other times, Coast Guard Port Security Units are often sent overseas to guard

2035-636: The Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training (CARAT) 2007 task group to conduct visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) training with the Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) and the Singapore Police Coast Guard (PCG) July 20 at PCG headquarters on the former Brani Naval Base . On October 25, 2007, a Coast Guard HC-130 from Coast Guard Air Station Kodiak, Alaska , flew a 2300-mile (3700 km) mission over

2090-594: The Florida coast, the Mona Passage between the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico , and Guam . Many of these missions are also search-and-rescue missions, since many migrants take to sea in unseaworthy vessels. However, interdiction does not always succeed. In October 2002, for example, a 50-foot (15 m) wooden freighter carrying 220 undocumented Haitians ran aground near Miami. The Coast Guard

2145-666: The Grand Banks. The International Ice Patrol was founded as a result of this conference. The first ships for the International Ice Patrol were the U.S. Navy cruisers USS  Chester and USS  Birmingham , which were dispatched for the remainder of the 1912 season. The Navy could not spare ships for these patrols in 1913, and the Revenue Cutter Service assigned USRC Seneca and USRC  Miami to patrol. The Revenue Cutter Service

2200-613: The New Jersey State Police in air and boat patrols to assess the damage. The primary function of the National Response Center (NRC) is to serve as the sole national point of contact for reporting all oil , chemical , radiological , biological , and etiological discharges into the environment anywhere in the United States and its territories. In addition to gathering and distributing spill data for Federal On Scene Coordinators and serving as

2255-532: The United States, the Coast Guard is responsible for evaluating, certifying, and credentialing U.S. merchant mariners . All mariners receive a Merchant Mariner Credential from the Coast Guard, and are also required to obtain a Transportation Worker Identification Credential from the Transportation Security Administration . [REDACTED]  This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of

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2310-524: The communications and operations center for the National Response Team, the NRC maintains agreements with a variety of federal entities to make additional notifications regarding incidents meeting established trigger criteria. The NRC also takes Terrorist/Suspicious Activity Reports and Maritime Security Breach Reports. Details on the NRC organization and specific responsibilities can be found in

2365-597: The core of a new unit, home ported in Bahrain, known as Patrol Forces Southwest Asia (PATFORSWA). In addition to the patrol boats, PATFORSWA serves as the supporting unit for other Coast Guard units deployed in the Global War on Terrorism. Numerous Port Security Units, Harbor Defense Commands/NCW Squadrons and Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDETs) from the elite Tactical Law Enforcement Teams (TACLETs) have also been deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. In 2006,

2420-465: The environment and facilitate commerce. The major activities that support the Port Safety mission include: The Captain can close a port and direct private vessels to depart or take protective measures if necessary, such as to prepare for a hurricane . While port safety is concerned with accidents that harm people or property, port security (as a part of maritime security ) is concerned with deliberate acts intended to harm people or property. In

2475-438: The event of large vessels sinking, after the rescue of any crew, the Coast Guard's next goal is to prevent oil and other hazardous materials from coming ashore. This is performed as part of the Coast Guard's marine environmental protection mission. For example, on November 26, 2004, the Athos I , a 750-foot (230 m) cargo vessel of Cypriot registry, lost 30,000 gallons (114 m³) of heavy crude oil near Philadelphia as it

2530-560: The following: Investigations are also conducted to determine if personnel actions by licensed or documented merchant mariners constitute one or more of the following: These investigations may result in a suspension and revocation action, which is an administrative process to determine the fitness of an individual to retain or continue to operate under the authority of his/her merchant Mariner document or license. These hearings are not criminal proceedings but rather administrative in nature. The program manages, influences, and provides access to

2585-451: The nearest Coast Guard station. The Coast Guard has dedicated Port Security Units (PSUs) that can be deployed around the U.S. or overseas, as in the Persian Gulf War . Coast Guard PSUs from Seattle, Washington ; San Pedro, California ; Port Clinton, Ohio ; Gulfport, Mississippi and St. Petersburg, Florida were called up for active duty in the Persian Gulf between December 2002 and December 2004. Coast Guard members also jointly staff

2640-495: The requirements set forth by the National Association of State Boating Law Administrators (NASBLA). The United States Power Squadrons offer courses in advanced navigation using modern equipment such as GPS and Radar . Courses are even offered in celestial navigation . USPS also teaches advanced courses in Weather, Marine Engine Maintenance, Marine Electronic and Electrical Systems, Sail, and Cruise Planning. The United States Power Squadrons conducts vessel safety checks. During

2695-502: The rescue. Occasionally, Coast Guard rescuers are used in non-maritime situations. On January 11, 2007, the Toledo Blade reported that a worker who was dangling from a 110-foot (33 m) grain elevator in Ottawa Lake, Michigan , was rescued by a Coast Guard helicopter. Coast Guard personnel inspect commercial vessels, respond to pollution, investigate marine casualties and merchant mariners, manage waterways, and license merchant mariners. Coast Guard officials also draft recommendations for

2750-514: The security of ports and other assets. The Coast Guard also jointly staffs the U.S. Navy 's Naval Coastal Warfare Groups and Squadrons (the latter of which were known as Harbor Defense Commands until late-2004) which oversee defense efforts in foreign littoral combat and inshore areas. In 2002, the Coast Guard provided several 110-foot (34 m) Patrol boats that were shipped to the Persian Gulf to conduct maritime interception operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. These ships became

2805-400: The transit of hazardous cargo by ship, such as liquid natural gas . The Coast Guard carries out investigations to determine the cause of accidents on American-flagged ( Flag State ) ships or foreign ships in American waters ( Port State ). Among the activities of the Coast Guard is inspection of commercial boats carrying passengers for hire. Vessels carrying more than six passengers must show

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2860-422: The vessel's firefighting and lifesaving equipment is adequate and in good condition, and machinery, hull construction, wiring, stability, safety railings, and navigation equipment meet Federal standards. The Coast Guard performs its marine safety mission by conducting marine inspection, marine investigation, waterways management, port safety, and merchant mariner credentialing activities. The marine safety mission

2915-411: The vessel. If a boat does not pass the inspection, the USPS informs the owners, but does not report its findings to any law enforcement or government agency. A parallel organization operates in Canada under the name Canadian Power and Sail Squadrons (CPS) in English and Escadrilles canadiennes de plaisance (ECP) in French. It was founded as an offshoot of USPS in 1938. The USPS ensign features

2970-410: Was en route to the Citgo oil facility in Paulsboro, New Jersey . This incident triggered a response from the Coast Guard's Philadelphia Marine Safety Office, the United States Environmental Protection Agency , the New Jersey State Police , and from Citgo. The Coast Guard's role was firstly, to minimize the damage from the spill, by setting up protective booms around the spill, and secondly, to work with

3025-495: Was tasked with maintaining the IIP on February 7, 1914. The IIP was continued into 1941, during the World War II, to allow the United States a legal pretext to sail to Greenland. In 1946, the IIP resumed operations flying three modified B-17 bombers and using cutters such as the USCGC  Tampa . Today, this mission is carried out by Coast Guard HC-130 aircraft from CGAS Elizabeth City, North Carolina , forward-deployed to Gander, Newfoundland . These aircraft report sightings to

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