Transcript Document

COMDTINST 16618.8
AWW is an outreach and awareness effort
 Gives the Coast Guard Auxiliary significant
responsibility for the AWW program
 Assigns the FMSC the responsibility for
coordinating the AWW program within their
area of responsibility.

Commandant’s Strategy
AWW directly supports two main elements of
the Commandant’s Maritime Strategy for
Homeland Security:
 Increasing Maritime Domain Awareness
 Leveraging Partnerships to mitigate
security risks
Background

September 11, 2001
 Need to improve Homeland Security
 Need for a force multiplier*
Local Initiatives
MTSA
 National Oversight Program
Background
With more than 95,000 miles of coastline
 290,000 square miles of waterway
 70 million recreational boaters
The U.S. Coast Guard and local first
responders cannot do the job alone.
“We will not tire, we will not falter, and we
will not fail.”
President George W. Bush
Goal
“The goal of AWW is to help prevent acts of
terrorism and other illegal activity that
jeopardizes maritime homeland security by
having members of the maritime and
recreational boating industries, as well as
the boating public, recognize and report to
appropriate authorities suspicious activity
that may be an indicator of potential
terrorism.”
SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
COMDTINST 16618.8 states that
suspicious activity “refers, but is not
limited, to activity regarding a vessel or
pleasure craft, marine structure or
waterfront facility, person, vehicle, cargo or
stores, which a reasonably prudent person
would consider out of the ordinary or
unusual based on the facts and
circumstances for that situation.”
Suspicious Activity

People asking suspicious questions:
• How many security guards are on duty?
• How close can I get to the cruise ship?
• How does this bridge operate?
• What is stored in those tanks?
Suspicious Activity

Something out of place:
 A new 55 gallon drum under a bridge.
 A pleasure boat docked at a regulated
commercial facility.
 Vehicles parked outside a fenced in
facility.
 People taking suspicious photographs.
Report Suspicious Activity To

911 for immediate danger to life or property

For suspicious activity call the National Response
Center Hotline –
1-877-24-WATCH
or
1-800-424-8802
WHERE YOUR INFORMATION GOES
SUSPICIOUS
ACTIVITY
AN EMERGENCY
YOU
911
Center
LOCAL
RESPONSE
Exchange information
as necessary
NRC
1-877-24-WATCH
STATE,
REGIONAL,
FEDERAL
AUTHORITIES
Your Information
Actionable
Intelligence
Intelligence
Information You Provide
MTSA

Requires commercial vessels and facilities
to report suspicious activity
 Requires each COTP/FMSC to form an
AREA MARITIME SECURITY
COMMITTEE (AMSC) and with the
COMMITTEE create an AREA
MARITIME SECURITY PLAN.
Partnering Agencies
Coast Guard Auxiliary
 U.S. Power Squadron
 Marina Operators Association of America
 National Association of State Boating Law
Administrators

WHAT TO DO
 Observe
and report
- NEVER approach someone who may
present a personal risk to you
 You know what’s normal and what’s not…
first, report your location. Then….
-Provide details…description of
Individuals, Vessels, Activity
Who to Contact
In case of Emergency: 911
or USCG via Channel 16
National Response Center- 1-800-424-8802
or 1-877-24-WATCH
(249-2824)
NRC Website is www.nrc.uscg.mil