|
Press Release
Date: Sept. 10, 2004
COAST GUARD TARGETS VESSELS FROM COUNTRIES
FOR INCREASED BOARDINGS
WASHINGTON – The Coast Guard today issued a list of countries
whose vessels will be targeted for increased boardings because
of two months of below average compliance with international security
standards.
“Approximately 200 vessels call on U.S. ports every day,”
said Adm. Thomas H. Collins, commandant of the Coast Guard. “We
must focus our resources on those ships that present the greatest
risk. The past compliance of vessels from these countries shows
us that they haven’t implemented basic security measures,
increasing the security risk posed to our ports when they arrive
here.”
The Coast Guard examined the results of its July and August security
compliance boardings to determine which countries’ vessels
had a higher than average rate of compliance problems that resulted
in a detention, denial of entry or other major control action.
Targeting vessels from these countries for increased boardings
helps the Coast Guard focus its attention on vessels that present
a higher risk, and is one element of a larger matrix that helps
Coast Guard field commanders consistently target vessels for boardings.
Other elements include the past performance of the individual
vessel, its ship management company, recognized security organization
and the security in its last five ports of call. Vessels are also
targeted for boardings based on intelligence information, or on
a random basis.
The list will be updated on a monthly basis until the first annual
report is issued, expected to be in April 2005, at which point
countries will be targeted for an entire year.
The new international security standards, the International Ship
and Port Facility Security Code, came into full effect on July
1, and required vessels that travel internationally to implement
basic security procedures, such as identification checks and securing
of restricted areas. Starting on July 1, the Coast Guard has boarded
every foreign vessel on its first port call to the United States.
More information on the Coast Guard’s port state control
program, including the list of targeted countries can be found
at: http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/pscweb.
Office of Public Affairs
U.S. Coast Guard
Contact: Jolie Shifflet
(202) 267-2304
|
