Foreign Governments and Securing the Maritime Transportation System

The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) directed the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to assess anti-terrorism measures at foreign ports. DHS delegated responsibility for this mandate to the Coast Guard. In response, the Coast Guard established the International Port Security (IPS) Program in 2004. Through this program, bilateral discussions, and sharing port security best practices, the Coast Guard seeks to reduce world-wide risks to maritime interests and facilitate secure global trade. Although many countries demonstrate that they consistently maintain or improve their port security performance over time, others have unfortunately declined in performance. Causes can be a major change in government, a national crisis, or the loss or transfer of a key individual. In certain cases where nations do not improve port security or are unable or unwilling, the Coast Guard takes action to reduce the risk to the U.S. by making public the country’s lack of effective security measures and imposing conditions of entry on vessels sailing to the U.S. from those countries. By assisting other countries that are motivated to improve, the IPS Program strengthens foreign borders and lowers the burden on Coast Guard operational units. As new global threats emerge and more countries increase vessel traffic to the United States, the IPS Program mission will become even more critical to reducing the risks posed by vessels, their crews, and cargoes from abroad.

• Record URL:
  https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/DCO%20Documents/Proceedings%20Magazine/Archive/2020/Vol77_No1_Spring2020.pdf
• Authors:
  • Barry, Steve
  • Barton, Scott
• Publication Date: 2020

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: Photos;
• Pagination: pp 30-35
• Serial:
  • Coast Guard Journal of Safety & Security at Sea, Proceedings of the Marine Safety & Security Council
  • Volume: 77
  • Issue Number: 1
  • Publisher: U.S. Coast Guard
  • Serial URL: http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Cooperation; International relations; International trade; Maritime law; Maritime safety; National security; Ports; Terrorism
• Identifier Terms: International Port Security program; Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002; United States Coast Guard
• Geographic Terms: Iraq; Ukraine; United States
• Subject Areas: Law; Marine Transportation; Safety and Human Factors; Security and Emergencies; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01751028
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Aug 31 2020 5:41PM