COAST GUARD: Vessel Identification System Development Needs to Be Reassessed

Abstract

The September 11, 2001, attacks on our nation emphasized the need for sound government information management especially as it pertains to potential risks to U.S. assets and citizens. One possible source of that risk is through the vessels that navigate our ports and waterways. Whereas most large commercial vessels and many large recreational vessels obtain federal documentation, most smaller vessels are registered only in the state where they are primarily used. In 1988, the Congress required the secretary of transportation to develop a system to share individual states vessel information as well as information on federally documented vessels. A vessel identification system would allow the Department of Transportations Coast Guard and local law enforcement officials to more effectively identify critical information on vessels in our nations ports and waterways information including the owners name, vessel identification, and any prior law enforcement activities associated with the vessel.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
May 01, 2002
Accession Number
ADA401867

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Government Accountability Office

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Ground and Sea Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Business Administration
  • Coast Guard
  • Commerce
  • Computer Science
  • Congress
  • Contractors
  • Electronic Mail
  • Governments
  • Identification Systems
  • Information Systems
  • Law
  • National Security
  • Personnel Management
  • Test And Evaluation
  • United States
  • Xml

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Cybersecurity.
  • Oceanography.
  • Systems Analysis and Design