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America’s Waterway Watch

America’s Waterway Watch. U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Homeland Security Outreach Program. 1. Why America’s Waterway Watch. With more than – 95,000 miles of shoreline 300,000 square miles of water* Over 70 Million boaters**

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America’s Waterway Watch

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  1. America’s Waterway Watch U.S. Coast Guard’s Maritime Homeland Security Outreach Program 1

  2. Why America’s Waterway Watch • With more than – • 95,000 miles of shoreline • 300,000 square miles of water* • Over 70 Million boaters** • Security is a job the U. S. Coast Guard 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 2005 was 71.3 Million 3

  3. America’s Waterway Watch • To help prevent acts of terrorism and illegal activity, that jeopardizes maritime homeland security, by enlisting the maritime and recreational boating industries and the public to maintain a heightened awareness of activity in the maritime domain and the reporting of suspicious activity 2

  4. Background Local Coast Guard & Auxiliary units developed outreach initiatives post 9/11 - Miami, FL - Baltimore, MD - Mobile, AL - Boston, MA - New Orleans, LA - Cleveland, OH - New York, NY - Hampton Roads, VA - Charleston, SC - Milwaukee, WI - Chicago, IL - Grand Haven, MI - Paducah, KY - Alameda, CA - Seattle, WA 4

  5. National Program Development • “America’s Waterway Watch” established 10 Feb 2005 by Commandant Instruction 16618.8 • Coast Guard 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” 5

  6. What is America's Waterway Watch? • 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 • Targeted at people who live, work, or recreate on or near • the water 6

  7. Activity We’re Asking the Public To Watch Out For • 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. 25

  8. Activity We’re Asking the Public To Watch Out For • 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. SUSPICIOUS INIDIVIDUALS CONDUCTING UNUSUAL ACTIVITIES 24

  9. Places Of Interest Bridges 26

  10. Places Of Interest Tunnels 27

  11. Places Of Interest TRANSMISSION LINES POWER FACILITIES 28

  12. Places Of Interest STORAGE TANKS PRODUCTION FACILITIES 29

  13. Places Of Interest FUEL DOCKS & FACILITIES 30

  14. Places Of Interest TOURIST CENTERS Cruise Ships / Ports 31 1

  15. USCG Auxiliary Role • Auxiliarists have a fundamental role in this program by: • Acting as primary lead in outreach and awareness activities by informing the public and recreational boaters about the program and it’s goals • Providing support to COTP for outreach to maritime industry and public at boat shows, during CG Aux ops, conducting presentations, and other public events • Maintaining watchful eyes and ears while underway, on Patrols, Vessel Safety Exams, Marina Visits 9

  16. How is a Report Made? America’s Waterway Watch Hotline: (877) 24-WATCH • Currently calls are received by the National Response Center (NRC), tasked with taking suspicious activity reports via phone, manned 24/7. • Located at USCG HQ, but not USCG run. Also Serves members of the National Response Team. 12

  17. What Happens To The Reports? • 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 MISLE automatically from IRIS • National Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC) also receives all the reports 13

  18. National Infrastructure Coordinating Center (NICC) – Suspicious Activity Reports • Purpose: Provide documentation of suspicious activities related to Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CI/KR). • Threshold: moderate (7-10 per week) • Source: Direct reports, North AmericanElectric Reliability Council (NERC), NRC, others • Coming soon: HSIN-CS • Format: 2 Word documents (full and redacted) • Distribution: • Full version: Homeland InfrastructureThreat & Risk Analysis Center (HITRAC), select NOC desks, FBI CT watch, USCG Maritime Intelligence Fusion Centers (MFIC), I&A Sector Liaison reps • Redacted: (No industry or U.S. person information) Senior Watch Officer/other NOC desks, Homeland Security OperationsMorning Brief (HSOMB), ICE OPS center 14

  19. Suspicious Activity Reporting * Example: Maritime Asset The NICC would coordinate with the USGC desk at the NOC *Thresholds= Reliability of the Report 15

  20. AWW Success Stories Stolen vessel from Oak Bay Marina in Vancouver, British Columbia A stolen vessel report was issued out to all of the Citizen Action Network members in the Seattle, WA area in March 2007. A member later saw a vessel fitting that description and reported it to the NRC. The NRC notified Sector Seattle 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 gave them a tracking point and found the vessel on the SW portion of the Kitsap Peninsula. 22

  21. AWW Success Stories Sayed Abdul Malike • The investigation of Malike began in late March, 2003 after a Queens store owner told police that the suspect sought information on making a bomb • Malike later traveled to Miami. He boarded a tourist ship for a sightseeing trip around the port. While videotaping the bridges they passed, he asked the Captain of the ship "about the infrastructure of bridges ... and about how close the boat could get to the bridges and cruise ships," After witnessing this unusual activity, the captain got his first mate to take the helm and immediately called 1-877-24-WATCH. • Malike was arrested in NY attempting to purchase large amounts of explosives.

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