Maritime Safety and Security Teams
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| Maritime Safety and Security Teams | |
|---|---|
| Unit name | Maritime Safety and Security Teams |
| Dates | 2002–present |
| Country | United States |
| Branch | United States Coast Guard |
| Type | Force protection |
| Role | Port security, maritime interdiction |
| Size | Multiple teams |
| Garrison | Coast Guard Districts |
| Nickname | MSST |
Maritime Safety and Security Teams are specialized United States Coast Guard units created after the September 11 attacks to provide layered port security and maritime force protection for critical infrastructure in U.S. and international waters. They operate alongside units such as Coast Guard Maritime Security Response Team, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and local Port Authority of New York and New Jersey partners to screen vessels, secure harbor approaches, and conduct counterterrorism interdiction. MSSTs support federal statutes including the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 and coordinate with agencies like the Department of Homeland Security, United States Navy, United States Customs and Border Protection, and Transportation Security Administration.
Overview
MSSTs were established as part of post-9/11 Commission reforms to enhance maritime homeland security and critical infrastructure protection at major seaports and waterways such as the Port of Los Angeles, Port of Long Beach, Port of Baltimore, and Port of New York and New Jersey. They combine capabilities derived from historical units like the Coast Guard Port Security Unit and doctrinal lessons from events such as the USS Cole bombing and the Somali piracy surge. MSSTs deploy to national events including the Super Bowl, Presidential Inauguration, and international exercises like RIMPAC to provide vessel escorts, bomb disposal liaison, and rapid response to asymmetric threats.
Organization and Structure
MSSTs are organized under regional Coast Guard Districts and typically consist of platoons of boarding teams, tactical boat crews, and support personnel modeled after force protection organizations used by the United States Marine Corps and United States Navy expeditionary units. Leadership reflects ranks within the United States Coast Guard Academy commissioning system and career fields similar to Coast Guard Aviation and Coast Guard Reserve components. Each MSST maintains logistics relationships with commands such as Coast Guard Headquarters, Sector Command Centers, and naval installations like Naval Station Norfolk and Naval Base San Diego for sustainment and interoperability.
Missions and Operations
MSST missions include antiterrorism screening of maritime traffic, vessel boarding and inspection in coordination with United States Coast Guard Investigative Service, harbor patrols in concert with Harbor Police and State Department maritime security advisors, and rapid interdiction of suspicious craft reminiscent of operations conducted during the Gulf War and counter-piracy campaigns off the Horn of Africa. MSSTs execute security for high-profile events such as the United Nations General Assembly, provide support during natural disasters like Hurricane Katrina, and participate in multinational exercises with partners including the Royal Navy, Royal Australian Navy, and Canadian Coast Guard.
Training and Equipment
Training pipelines for MSST personnel draw on curricula from institutions like the Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers, Naval Special Warfare Center, and the Joint Terrorism Task Force interagency programs. Skill sets include tactical small-boat operations, non-compliant vessel boardings similar to techniques used by United States Navy SEALs, maritime interdiction reminiscent of Operation Enduring Freedom, and evidence preservation aligned with standards from the Department of Justice. Equipment inventories feature rigid-hull inflatable boats comparable to craft used by Special Boat Teams, non-lethal systems influenced by Taser International deployments, and communications suites interoperable with Joint Task Force assets and NORAD command-and-control networks.
Notable Deployments and Incidents
MSSTs have been activated for responses including the Deepwater Horizon oil spill where they supported United States Environmental Protection Agency and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration efforts, security for NATO summits, and port protection during contingencies linked to events in the Persian Gulf and Caribbean. They have assisted in high-profile interdictions alongside U.S. Navy and U.S. Customs and Border Protection during operations that drew comparison to counter-narcotics campaigns in the Eastern Pacific and Caribbean Sea. MSST actions have been scrutinized within oversight forums such as Congressional hearings addressing maritime security policy and appropriations.
Legal Authorities and Interagency Coordination
MSST operations are authorized under statutes and directives including the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, provisions of the Title 14 of the United States Code, and policy guidance from the Department of Homeland Security. Interagency coordination routinely involves the Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Attorney, and local law enforcement such as New York Police Department or Los Angeles Police Department harbor units for unified command under the National Incident Management System and Incident Command System frameworks. Internationally, MSSTs liaise with foreign equivalents and treaties like the SOLAS regime through engagements with organizations such as the International Maritime Organization.