The Security and Defense of America's Ports: An Assessment of Coast Guard and Navy Roles, Capabilities and Synchronization
Abstract
The National Strategy for Maritime Security discusses the threats to the United States maritime security through acts committed by nation-states and terrorist organizations. To enforce maritime security the nation's strategic objectives include preventing terrorist attacks and hostile criminal acts in protection of maritime industry ensuring the safety of coastal population centers and infrastructure instituting measures to safeguard the maritime domain to include territorial seas and internal waterways. The United States must thus act to increase security for seaborne commerce and create depth of enforcement through the assets of the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense to ensure the nation's maritime transportation system is defended and secure. This paper defines the roles of the Departments of Homeland Security and Defense as well as the respective missions and means of the Coast Guard and Navy to protect the nation's maritime domain. Coordination and interoperability between the two services is reviewed with an emphasis on seams gaps and vulnerabilities identified in counter to Coast Guard and Navy efforts to provide security and defense for the nation's maritime boundaries and commercial ports. The paper concludes with recommendations to mitigate those seams and vulnerabilities detected in this research.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 15, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA448833
Entities
People
- Timothy P. Richardt
Organizations
- United States Army War College