The Office of Port and Facility Compliance is pleased to announce the publication of a consolidated report on the status and work completed in 2022 by Area Maritime Security Committees.
Area Maritime Security Committees (AMSCs) provide a forum to discuss and address maritime security issues and emerging challenges in the Marine Transportation System that could adversely impact the Maritime Domain at the port level. Each of the 43 AMSCs submitted data that assisted multiple program offices to devise national strategies to address common problems, emerging threats, and measure AMSCs alignment with national preparedness goals.
Some of the highlights in the newly released report included:
• AMSC Events. AMSCs and their respective subcommittees collectively facilitated 1,718 events. This total included 780 administrative AMSC meetings and 938 training specific events. These coordinated opportunities resulted in effective, real world security prevention, response, and recovery efforts.
• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). AMSCs are still reporting unauthorized UAS flights over their MTSA regulated facilities. Many AMSCs have formed UAS subcommittees to discuss the current technology, applicable rules, best practices, and the feasibility of port stakeholders developing a UAS program. The Sault Region AMSC members received training from New Mexico Tech University on UAS Program Development and recommend the training to other AMSCs.
• Cyber Accomplishments and Best Practices. The importance of cybersecurity continues to highlight global and national cyber events. Port stakeholders are more engaged and request relevant maritime cybersecurity information to be passed through appropriate channels to them. AMSCs engaged in cyber exercises, training, and cyber response plan development. For example, the San Diego AMSC collaborated with San Diego’s Cyber Center of Excellence on a Cyber Podcast Series and the Central California AMSC conducted a two-day workshop that had both cyber and kinetic elements, the lessons learned could benefit other agencies.
The consolidated report confirms that collaboration, planning, coordination, open lines of communication, and unity of efforts, with each AMSC, are essential in addressing new issues and emerging threats that could impact our national security and economic interests.
For additional information on the AMSCs, contact Dr. Robyn Kapperman at Robyn.A.Kapperman@uscg.mil.