United States Coast Guard Atlantic Area Public Aff
02-12-2004, 04:26 PM
Posted by United States Coast Guard Atlantic Area Public Affairs on October 09, 2001 at 15:29:21:
From
http://www.uscg.mil/d5/news/2001/r122_01.htm
Coast Guard News
Commander (Acp)
USCG Atlantic Area Public Affairs
431 Crawford Street
Portsmouth, VA 23704
(757) 398-6272
e-mail: Public Affairs
LantAreaPublicAffairs@lantd5.uscg.mil
October 08, 2001
Coast Guard at Highest State of Alert Since
WWII
PORTSMOUTH, Va. - The Coast Guard remains at its highest state of alert and readiness since World
War II today, one day after the president authorized military action against the terrorist regime in
Afghanistan.
"Coast Guard air and sea patrols are keeping a watchful eye on all vessel movements around the clock in
many of the more than 300 ports and 88,000 miles of U.S. coast and shoreline," said Lt. Cmdr. Brendan
McPherson, a spokesman for the Coast Guard Atlantic Area command in Portsmouth.
Ports from Boston to Texas are under tighter security than they have been in more than fifty years. The
Coast Guard has stepped up both the frequency and vigilance of its armed patrols, which were significantly
increased just hours after the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks Sept. 11.
"As the lead agency in providing domestic security in the maritime domain, the Coast Guard will sustain a
heightened level of vigilance in America’s ports and waterways as long as necessary," McPherson said.
While ports remain open, Coast Guard Captains of the Port are carefully screening all vessels entering U.S.
ports, inspecting cargo manifests and crew lists. The COTPs have also been enforcing 72 security zones that
have been put in place to protect critical port facilities, U.S. naval vessels and ships carrying hazardous
cargo.
In a temporary rule established Thursday, most commercial vessels entering any U.S. port are now required
to provide 96-hour advance notification to the Coast Guard. On a case by case basis, these vessels are being
boarded by armed Coast Guard boarding teams for inspection prior to entry.
Armed boarding teams and escorts are also being provided for cruise ships entering and leaving the ports of
Hampton Roads, Port Everglades and Miami, Fla., and in ports in Hawaii and California.
Approximately 2,700 Coast Guard reservists have been recalled to active duty and are augmenting thousands
more active duty members conducting security patrols along America’s ports and waterways.
A detachment from Port Security Unit 311, a reserve unit based in San Pedro, Calif., departed March Air
Force Base and deployed overseas to provide waterside security and maritime force protection in support of
the Department of Defense. The destination of the 45-member unit is being withheld for national security
reasons.
PSU 311 is a deployable unit organized for sustained operations to support military missions worldwide.
Members of PSU 311 train in specialized combat, weapons and boat skills to ensure the requirements of its
missions are met.
PSU 311, which patrolled the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors with other Coast Guard assets
immediately following the events of Sept. 11, was one four Port Security Units to be used for the first time to
provide port security within the United States.
PSUs have previously been called to active duty for service in the Persian Gulf War and Operation Uphold
Democracy in Haiti, and two of the Coast Guard’s PSU’s.
The U.S. Coast Guard is one of the five branches of the U.S. armed forces and is subject to deployment as
part of Operation Enduring Freedom as directed by the president. In accordance with national defense
requirements, the Coast Guard cannot discuss any specifics of any such deployment, plans or actions.
Updated: October 2001
From
http://www.uscg.mil/d5/news/2001/r122_01.htm
Coast Guard News
Commander (Acp)
USCG Atlantic Area Public Affairs
431 Crawford Street
Portsmouth, VA 23704
(757) 398-6272
e-mail: Public Affairs
LantAreaPublicAffairs@lantd5.uscg.mil
October 08, 2001
Coast Guard at Highest State of Alert Since
WWII
PORTSMOUTH, Va. - The Coast Guard remains at its highest state of alert and readiness since World
War II today, one day after the president authorized military action against the terrorist regime in
Afghanistan.
"Coast Guard air and sea patrols are keeping a watchful eye on all vessel movements around the clock in
many of the more than 300 ports and 88,000 miles of U.S. coast and shoreline," said Lt. Cmdr. Brendan
McPherson, a spokesman for the Coast Guard Atlantic Area command in Portsmouth.
Ports from Boston to Texas are under tighter security than they have been in more than fifty years. The
Coast Guard has stepped up both the frequency and vigilance of its armed patrols, which were significantly
increased just hours after the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks Sept. 11.
"As the lead agency in providing domestic security in the maritime domain, the Coast Guard will sustain a
heightened level of vigilance in America’s ports and waterways as long as necessary," McPherson said.
While ports remain open, Coast Guard Captains of the Port are carefully screening all vessels entering U.S.
ports, inspecting cargo manifests and crew lists. The COTPs have also been enforcing 72 security zones that
have been put in place to protect critical port facilities, U.S. naval vessels and ships carrying hazardous
cargo.
In a temporary rule established Thursday, most commercial vessels entering any U.S. port are now required
to provide 96-hour advance notification to the Coast Guard. On a case by case basis, these vessels are being
boarded by armed Coast Guard boarding teams for inspection prior to entry.
Armed boarding teams and escorts are also being provided for cruise ships entering and leaving the ports of
Hampton Roads, Port Everglades and Miami, Fla., and in ports in Hawaii and California.
Approximately 2,700 Coast Guard reservists have been recalled to active duty and are augmenting thousands
more active duty members conducting security patrols along America’s ports and waterways.
A detachment from Port Security Unit 311, a reserve unit based in San Pedro, Calif., departed March Air
Force Base and deployed overseas to provide waterside security and maritime force protection in support of
the Department of Defense. The destination of the 45-member unit is being withheld for national security
reasons.
PSU 311 is a deployable unit organized for sustained operations to support military missions worldwide.
Members of PSU 311 train in specialized combat, weapons and boat skills to ensure the requirements of its
missions are met.
PSU 311, which patrolled the Los Angeles and Long Beach harbors with other Coast Guard assets
immediately following the events of Sept. 11, was one four Port Security Units to be used for the first time to
provide port security within the United States.
PSUs have previously been called to active duty for service in the Persian Gulf War and Operation Uphold
Democracy in Haiti, and two of the Coast Guard’s PSU’s.
The U.S. Coast Guard is one of the five branches of the U.S. armed forces and is subject to deployment as
part of Operation Enduring Freedom as directed by the president. In accordance with national defense
requirements, the Coast Guard cannot discuss any specifics of any such deployment, plans or actions.
Updated: October 2001