America’s Waterway Watch (AWW) U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Homeland Security Outreach Program

What is America’s Waterway Watch (AWW)?

• A Coast Guard-sponsored nationwide public outreach program that encourages citizens living, playing, or working on or near the water to report suspicious activity to responsible authorities. AWW helps prevent acts of terrorism and illegal activity that jeopardize maritime homeland security.

• Incorporates the Citizen’s Action Network (CAN) – Involves the USCG pulsing out information to specific, strategically-located, vetted citizens (CAN members) on an as needed basis – Citizens do not become agents of the CG or any other law enforcement agency

What is AWW? (cont.)

• A force multiplier for the USCG and local law enforcement • A national program that builds on many local and regional programs • A call for behavior change • Encompasses local all-hazards maritime domain awareness operations - Protects the maritime economy and environment - Defends our maritime borders - Assists persons in distress

Why AWW?

With more than –

•95,000 miles of shoreline •300,000 square miles of water* •Over 75 Million boaters** Security is a job the USCG and local first responders

can’t do alone

*Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service and CIA World Factbook **According to the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) estimated Boating participation in 2010 was approx 75 Million

Background

Local Coast Guard & Auxiliary units developed outreach initiatives post 9/11 - Miami, FL - Mobile, AL - Baltimore, MD - Boston, MA - New Orleans, LA - New York, NY - Charleston, SC - Chicago, IL - Paducah, KY - Seattle, WA - Cleveland, OH - Hampton Roads, VA - Milwaukee, WI - Grand Haven, MI - Alameda, CA

National Program Development

• AWW was established 10 Feb 2005 by Commandant Instruction 16618.8

Designated USCG as “National Program Manager” Appointment of “Auxiliary National Liaison” • National program supports local initiatives • Local autonomy with national support and guidance • Local commanders & units allowed to develop programs considering resources and threats • “Locally focused and Nationally connected”

Suspicious Activity

• Vessels that circle in and around pilings, particularly near commercial traffic • Vessels that loiter offshore, near commercial or passenger vessel activities • Any person who appears to be “casing” a boat or waterfront facility • Unusual diving or boating activity near dams, hydroelectric facilities or chemical and nuclear plants • Unfamiliar individuals photographing or making sketches or videos near vessels, bridges or waterside facilities • Persons who loiter near or ask specific questions about commercial / passenger vessels or waterside activities.

Suspicious Activity (cont.)

• Boaters or others on the waterfront who seem to make an obvious effort to avoid contact with others • Persons who attempt to rent or buy fishing or recreational vessels with cash for short term undefined use • Persons who attempt to gain access to waterside facilities without proper ID • Anyone trying to forcibly access a boat or waterfront facility • Boaters who appear to be under the control of another party

Remember: People aren’t suspicious, behavior is!

Places of Interest

Bridges

Places of Interest

Tunnels

Places of Interest

Transmission Lines Power Facilities

Places of Interest

Production Facilities Storage Tanks

Places of Interest

Fuel Docks and Facilities

Places of Interest

Tourist Centers, Cruise Ships, and Ports

USCG Auxiliary Role

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Auxiliarists have a fundamental role in AWW by:

– Acting as primary lead in outreach and awareness activities by informing the public and recreational boaters about the program and its goals – Providing support to Captains of the Port (COTPs) for outreach to the maritime industry and public at boat shows, during CG Aux ops & presentations, and other public events – Maintaining watchful eyes and ears while underway, on patrols, and during vessel safety exams & marina visits

How is a Report Made?

America’s Waterway Watch Hotline:

(877) 24-WATCH

- Currently calls are received by the National Response Center (NRC). The NRC is manned 24/7 and is tasked with taking suspicious activity reports via phone.

The NRC is located at USCGHQ, but isn’t USCG run. The NRC also serves members of the National Response Team.

What Happens To The Reports?

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The NRC enters the information into Incident Reporting Information System (IRIS) That info is sent out to recipients in the area the report was received (COTP, FBI, State/Local, and other requesters) FBI, State/Local, and COTP conduct possible follow up The report is also downloaded into the Marine Information for Safety and Law Enforcement (MISLE) database automatically from IRIS The National Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC) also receives all the reports

Social Media

 Leveraging Social Media helps accomplish 5 objectives*: - Listening: - Talking: Understanding our customers Spreading the message - Energizing: Supercharge the word of mouth - Supporting: Help our customers help each other - Embracing: Integrate our customers into the way we do business  The Facebook Dynamic - 500,000 Facebook users as of 2011, half are logged in on any given day** - 48% of young Americans discover the news via Facebook** - 206.2 million Internet users in U.S. (71.2% of web audience is on Facebook)** If Facebook were a country, it’d be the 3 rd most populous in the world** *Li, C and Bernoff, J; 2008, “Groundswell: Winning in world transformed by Social Technologies”; Harvard Business Press **Source: www.mashable.com

Social Media (cont.)

• AWW Facebook Fan Site – Averages 5,000 page views/day – 73,580 post views in the last month • Twitter cross-posting • The AWW Social Media Campaign resulted in a marked increase in SAR calls to the AWW hotline – From 2003-2008, the NRC received 3500 calls – In 2010, the NRC received 26,679 calls.

AWW Success Story

Stolen vessel from Oak Bay Marina in Vancouver, British Columbia

A stolen vessel report was issued out to all Citizen’s Action Network (CAN) members in the Seattle, WA area in March 2007. A CAN member later saw a vessel fitting that description and reported it to the NRC. The NRC notified Sector Seattle (now Sector Puget Sound) and the local sheriff’s department. The report was followed up on in Olympia, WA and it was the stolen vessel in question. The vessel departed the scene before investigators arrived, but it gave them a tracking point. Investigators later discovered the vessel on the SW portion of the Kitsap Peninsula.

Questions?

“The America’s Waterway Watch Program enables everyone to help secure our Nation from crime, terrorism, and other threats by reporting unusual or suspicious activities on or near U.S. waters.” -Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Bob Papp