Polar Icebreakers in a Changing World
Polar Icebreakers in a Changing World

Author: National Research Council

Publisher: National Academies Press

Published: 2007-03-14

Total Pages: 135

ISBN-13: 0309103215

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The United States has enduring national and strategic interests in the polar regions, including citizens living above the Arctic circle and three year-round scientific stations in the Antarctic. Polar icebreaking ships are needed to access both regions. Over the past several decades, the U.S. government has supported a fleet of four icebreakersâ€"three multi-mission U.S. Coast Guard ships (the POLAR SEA, POLAR STAR, and HEALY) and the National Science Foundation's PALMER, which is dedicated solely to scientific research. Today, the POLAR STAR and the POLAR SEA are at the end of their service lives, and a lack of funds and no plans for an extension of the program has put U.S. icebreaking capability at risk. This report concludes that the United States should continue to support its interests in the Arctic and Antarctic for multiple missions, including maintaining leadership in polar science. The report recommends that the United States immediately program, budget, design, and construct two new polar icebreakers to be operated by the U.S. Coast Guard. The POLAR SEA should remain mission capable and the POLAR STAR should remain available for reactivation until the new polar icebreakers enter service. The U.S. Coast Guard should be provided sufficient operations and maintenance budget to support an increased, regular, and influential presence in the Arctic, with support from other agencies. The report also calls for a Presidential Decision Directive to clearly align agency responsibilities and budgetary authorities.

Homeland Security and the Coast Guard
Homeland Security and the Coast Guard

Author: Arthur C. Walsh

Publisher:

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 66

ISBN-13:

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The Coast Guard was effectively positioned to accomplish its missions and functions before the September 2001 terrorist attacks. The terrorist attacks reshaped the United States national security strategy, and this caused the Coast Guard to reprioritize its mission requirements elevating Homeland Security to be on par with the Coast Guard's number one priority, search and rescue operations. To effectively carry out the Homeland Security mission, the Coast Guard must leverage existing and developing technologies. These technologies will improve efficiency across the full spectrum of Coast Guard missions. While these technologies are not cheap; costs for research, development, and application can be greatly reduced by partnering with other agencies. To leverage these technologies to improve Homeland Security effectiveness, a process for evaluating and infusing emerging technology within the Coast Guard must be developed. This process must then be institutionalized within the Coast Guard's corporate structure.

The Whole is Greater Than the Sum
The Whole is Greater Than the Sum

Author: Norman L. Custard

Publisher:

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 35

ISBN-13:

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This SRP examines the national strategic importance of maintaining the Coast Guard intact through the 21st Century to preserve its vast, effective multi-functional capabilities. Provisions of the Homeland Security Act of 2002 established a new cabinet-level Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and transferred the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) from the Department of Transportation (DOT) to this new Department, effective 1 March 2003. Authorization in the Act to transfer the Coast Guard to the DHS was not granted without considerable debate. The debates surrounding the Coast Guard's move to the DHS centered on whether the new emphasis on the strategic objectives of homeland security would degrade the multi-functional services the Coast Guard provides to the nation. Many members of Congress expressed concern the proposed transfer could lead to a reduced focus on the Coast Guard's non-homeland security" missions. One option proposed to alleviate such concerns was to divide the Coast Guard into two parts. The missions that focus on maritime homeland security would be transferred to the DHS, and the remaining non-homeland security missions would stay with the DOT. Ultimately the Coast Guard was transferred intact to the DHS. The roles and missions of the Coast Guard are truly overlapping and interrelated. Indeed they are intrinsically interconnected in such a way that the Coast Guard's total service is considerably greater as a whole than the sum of its parts. As the DHS matures, members of Congress and DHS leaders will eventually question the need for the DHS to regulate so-called non-homeland security missions. Coast Guard officials must prepare for renewal of the option of dividing the Coast Guard. The greatest danger to maritime homeland security and to achieving other strategic national security interests would be to fragment the Coast Guard.

Coast Guards and International Maritime Law Enforcement
Coast Guards and International Maritime Law Enforcement

Author: Suk Kyoon Kim

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Published: 2020-07-30

Total Pages: 237

ISBN-13: 1527557383

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This book explores various aspects of the roles and responsibilities of coast guards, which are increasingly becoming significant today, and sheds light on their authority and limitations in the course of maritime law enforcement. It is unique in its unraveling of all facets of coast guards, focusing on their law enforcement authority and limitations from a practical perspective. It details the principles and procedures that coast guard officers are required to follow in the course of international law at sea by examining treaties, conventions, international rulings, and theories. The text employs a comparative study of national coast guards and a review of cases concerning international maritime law enforcement. It provides practical insights into coast guards and their law enforcement, based on the author’s career experience and service as a Commissioner General in the Korea Coast Guard. As such, this book will serve as a good reference in practice and contribute to the formulation of guidelines and criteria of maritime law enforcement of coast guards.

Future of the Homeland Security Missions of the Coast Guard
Future of the Homeland Security Missions of the Coast Guard

Author: United States. Congress. House. Committee on Homeland Security. Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2015-04-04

Total Pages: 32

ISBN-13: 9781511578974

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The focus of today's hearing is the Coast Guard's Homeland Security missions, including ports, waterways and coastal security, drug interdiction, migrant interdiction, defense readiness, and law enforcement. Since 9/11, the Coast Guard has taken an ever-increasing role in the protection of our Nation. The Coast Guard has been tasked to specifically focus their limited resources on port and maritime security. This often calls for some difficult choices, and in this time of very restrained budgets, we have to prioritize the Coast Guard's core missions, because the Coast Guard cannot be everywhere at once. Congress needs to ensure that the Coast Guard, again, has the proper assets to safely and effectively carry out its operations.

Small Vessel Security Strategy
Small Vessel Security Strategy

Author: U. S. Department U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Publisher: CreateSpace

Published: 2014-09-04

Total Pages: 58

ISBN-13: 9781501051654

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Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, maritime security efforts have focused primarily on large commercial vessels, cargoes, and crew. Efforts to address the small vessel environment have largely been limited to traditional safety and basic law enforcement concerns. Small vessels are, however, readily vulnerable to potential exploitation by terrorists, smugglers of weapons of mass destruction (WMDs), narcotics, aliens, and other contraband, and other criminals. Small vessels have also been successfully employed overseas by terrorists to deliver Waterborne Improvised Explosive Devices (WBIEDs). Law enforcement agencies face the challenge of distinguishing between the vast number of legitimate vessel operators and the relatively few individuals engaged in illicit activities. The challenge is immense, as it involves nearly 13 million registered U.S. recreational vessels, 82,000 fishing vessels, and 100,000 other commercial small vessels. On any given day, a considerable number of these boats share waterways with commercial and military traffic, operating at hundreds of U.S. ports and in the immediate vicinity of critical maritime infrastructure, including bridges and waterfront facilities such as petrochemical plants. More information concerning small vessels is needed to improve the proper assessment of the risk posed by these vessels. The challenge is to balance the collection of requisite information necessary for proper assessment of risk posed by these vessels, with the freedom of the seas expected by the small boating community.

United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and Homeland Security
United States Coast Guard Auxiliary and Homeland Security

Author: Daniel J. Benny

Publisher:

Published: 2020-04-25

Total Pages: 112

ISBN-13: 9781536172676

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The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the volunteer organization of the United States Coast Guard. In that role they support the United States Coast Guard in their non-law enforcement and boating safety missions to protect the homeland of the United States. In this timely publication you will explore the brief history of the United States Coast Guard and the origins of the United State Coast Guard Auxiliary as well as their homeland security missions. Through examination of the organisation, membership and training requirement of the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary you will have an understanding of what it takes to be a member of this patriotic organization and the important role these volunteers play in support of the United States Coast Guard and the homeland security of the nation. Through the United States Coast Guard America's Waterway Watch program that is run by the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, you will learn about the signs of criminal activity and terrorism on or near the nation's waterways and ports and role of the maritime industry in this effort.