Maritime security (USCG)

Maritime security encompasses measures intended to protect vessels, ports, waterways, and maritime infrastructure from intentional threats such as sabotage, terrorism, piracy, and other unlawful acts.[1] In the United States, maritime security is one of the principal missions of the United States Coast Guard. The service's maritime security responsibilities expanded during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in response to wartime threats, acts of sabotage, and concerns about terrorism against maritime transportation and critical infrastructure.[2]

Maritime security activities in the United States are supported by several federal statutes and international agreements.

  • The Espionage Act of 1917 authorized the federal government to regulate the anchorage and movement of vessels in U.S. territorial waters during national emergencies and wartime conditions.[3]
  • The Magnuson Act of 1950 expanded federal authority over port security during the Cold War and authorized measures to safeguard vessels, harbors, ports, and waterfront facilities against sabotage and other threats to national security.[4]
  • The Ports and Waterways Safety Act of 1972 was enacted in response to growing concerns about vessel accidents, marine pollution, and port safety. The law expanded federal authority to regulate vessel traffic and improve the safety of U.S. ports and waterways.[5]
  • Following the September 11 attacks, Congress enacted the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA). The legislation established new requirements for port security plans, vessel security measures, facility security assessments, and other initiatives designed to reduce the risk of terrorism within the U.S. maritime transportation system.[6] The same year, the International Maritime Organization adopted the '''International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code''' as an amendment to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea (SOLAS). The ISPS Code established a standardized international framework for assessing security threats and implementing protective measures aboard ships and at port facilities engaged in international trade.[7] The MTSA implemented many of these international maritime security standards within the United States and provided the legal framework for their enforcement by the United States Coast Guard.

Port Security

Under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA), U.S. ports, vessels, and maritime facilities are required to implement security plans and other measures intended to reduce the risk of terrorism and other security threats.[6] The regulations require port stakeholders to assess vulnerabilities, identify critical infrastructure, coordinate security resources, and establish procedures for responding to security incidents. Within each port, the Coast Guard's Captain of the Port (COTP) is responsible for overseeing maritime security planning, evaluating threats, and coordinating protective measures for key facilities and assets.[8]

Vessel Security

Both the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code establish security requirements for commercial vessels. Under these frameworks, vessel owners and operators are required to appoint designated security officers, conduct security assessments, develop and maintain vessel security plans, and implement protective measures appropriate to the vessel's operations and risk profile.[6] Vessels subject to these regulations must also comply with maritime security levels established by national authorities and adjust their security procedures in response to changing threat conditions.

Facility Security

Under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA), a facility is broadly defined as a structure or installation located in, on, under, or adjacent to waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and used by a public or private entity for maritime activities. Examples include container terminals, passenger terminals, oil storage facilities, and barge fleeting facilities.[9]

The MTSA and the International Ship and Port Facility Security (ISPS) Code require covered facilities to conduct security assessments, develop security plans, designate facility security officers, and implement measures appropriate to their operations and risk profiles.[9]

Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) facilities, including offshore petroleum production platforms and certain floating production systems, are also subject to maritime security requirements. These facilities must comply with security regulations comparable to those applied to waterfront facilities and other critical maritime infrastructure.[10]

Piracy and armed security

In areas at elevated risk of piracy or terrorism, commercial vessels may employ armed security personnel or receive protection from naval forces. During the early twenty-first century, international naval patrols and embarked security teams became increasingly common in regions such as the Gulf of Aden and the western Indian Ocean in response to Somali piracy.[11] Maritime security concerns in these regions gained international attention following incidents such as the hijacking of the merchant vessel Maersk Alabama in 2009 and the bombing of USS Cole in 2000.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Maritime Security". www.imo.org. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  2. ↑ "What We Do". www.uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 2026-04-09. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  3. ↑ Kratz, Jessie (2017-06-15). "Defining a Spy: the Espionage Act". Pieces of History. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  4. ↑ "46 U.S. Code § 70051 - Regulation of anchorage and movement of vessels during national emergency". LII / Legal Information Institute. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  5. ↑ "Text - H.R.8140 - 92nd Congress (1971-1972): An Act to promote the safety of ports, harbors, waterfront areas, and navigable waters of the United States". www.congress.gov. 1972-07-10. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  6. 1 2 3 "ISPS / MTSA". www.dco.uscg.mil. Archived from the original on 2026-05-05. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  7. ↑ "SOLAS XI-2 and the ISPS Code". www.imo.org. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  8. ↑ "33 CFR Part 103 -- Maritime Security: Area Maritime Security". www.ecfr.gov. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  9. 1 2 "33 CFR Part 105 -- Maritime Security: Facilities". www.ecfr.gov. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  10. ↑ "33 CFR Part 106 -- Marine Security: Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Facilities". www.ecfr.gov. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
  11. ↑ "Piracy Reports". www.imo.org. Retrieved 2026-06-03.
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