U.S. Coast Guard America’s Maritime Guardian June 2010
A few armed vessels, judiciously stationed at the entrances of our ports, might at a small expense be made useful sentinels of the laws. —  Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury Federalist No. 12, Nov. 27, 1787 (Earliest recorded reference to what would become the U.S. Coast Guard)
The Coast Guard is … Military One of the five armed forces Multi-mission Has 11 statutory missions Maritime Oldest, continuous seagoing service
The U.S. Maritime Environment 95,000 miles of shoreline  3.5 million square miles of Exclusive Economic Zone  200 miles out from the coast One of every six jobs is marine-related  More than one-third of the gross national product originates in coastal areas
Maritime Transportation More than 90% of the world’s trade is carried on the water Carries 78% of all U.S. international trade Transports 66% of all U.S. crude oil Produces thousands of U.S. jobs
Seas provide opportunities/threats Avenue for commerce and world trade Ability to have military power beyond our shores to protect U.S. interests Highways for criminal and terrorist threats that honor no national borders drug-smuggling submarine
 
The Coast Guard is  always ready  to provide Maritime safety Maritime security Maritime stewardship …  through  11 statutory missions
1. Ports, Waterways, and  Coastal Security In an average day, the Coast Guard: Provides a presence in all major ports Does security boardings of 5 high interest vessels Provides a waterside escort for 4 military supply ships
2. Drug Interdiction In an average day, the Coast Guard: Keeps ½ ton of cocaine off the streets warning shots off-loading seized drugs
3. Aids to Navigation In an average day, the Coast Guard: Services 49 buoys and fixes 21 discrepancies (such as buoys moved by a hurricane)
4. Search and Rescue In an average day, the Coast Guard: Saves 13 lives Responds to 64 search and rescue cases Saves $260 thousand in property Rescues 77% of mariners in imminent danger
5. Living Marine Resources  In an average day, the Coast Guard: Boards 15 fishing boats to ensure compliance with fisheries laws
6. Marine Safety In an average day, the Coast Guard: Screens 679 commercial vessels and 170,000 crew and passengers Investigates 12 marine accidents Issues 200 credentials to merchant mariners
7. Defense Readiness In an average day, the Coast Guard: Has 6 patrol boats and 400 personnel: Protecting Iraq’s maritime oil infrastructure Training Iraqi naval forces Keeping sea lanes secure in the Arabian Gulf
8. Migrant Interdiction In an average day, the Coast Guard: Interdicts 10 undocumented migrants trying to enter the United States
9. Marine Environmental Protection In an average day, the Coast Guard: Responds to and investigates 10 pollution incidents Inspects 70 containers Inspects 33 vessels for compliance with air emissions standards
10. Ice Operations In 2009, the Coast Guard: Performed domestic icebreaking to keep waterways open for commercial traffic Assisted 479 ice transits Enabled the transport of $2 billion worth of cargo Brought scientists to the Arctic to map the floor of the Arctic Ocean and for studies on polar bears, ocean sediment and methane gas
11. Other Law Enforcement (foreign fishing vessel law enforcement) Assisting China with fisheries law enforcement In 2009, the Coast Guard: Detected 112 foreign fishing vessels illegally encroaching the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone Conducted cooperative patrols with China for fishery enforcement in the North Pacific
Where we fit
Unique Law Enforcement Authority Posse Comitatus Act Federal law that prohibits using the  military   for law enforcement  Coast Guard is  exempt
Personnel Strength of  Armed Forces (as of February 2010) Service Military personnel Percent of total Army 558,840 38% Air Force 335,490 23% Navy 329,571 22% Marine Corps 204,133 14% Coast Guard 43,449 3% Total 1,471,483 100%
Our People Full-time Military:  42,400 Civilian:  7,900 Part-time Reservists:  6,900 Volunteers Auxiliarists: 30,000 Our military strength – about the same size as the New York City police force
Budget and Resources Fiscal Year 2010 Budget:  $10.1 billion Resources Cutters:  250 (65 ft. +) Boats:  1,784 Aircraft:  198
Current Issues Deepwater Horizon oil spill response in Gulf of Mexico Modernize business practices Help develop ocean policy recommendations for the President Help create security strategy for threats from small vessels Small vessel attack on a ship
Current Issues  (cont’d) Face budget challenges in a fiscally constrained environment Reduce invasive aquatic species Replace aging assets (e.g., ships with six decades of service) Asian Carp: a threat to the Great Lakes
Current Issues  (cont’d) Plan for future mission responsibilities in the Arctic Create a “green Coast Guard” Coast Guard four-acre solar array field in Petaluma, Calif.
America’s Maritime Guardian: …  In the heartland …  In the ports …  On the seas …  Around the globe
Questions?
 

Coast Guard 101

  • 1.
    U.S. Coast GuardAmerica’s Maritime Guardian June 2010
  • 2.
    A few armedvessels, judiciously stationed at the entrances of our ports, might at a small expense be made useful sentinels of the laws. — Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury Federalist No. 12, Nov. 27, 1787 (Earliest recorded reference to what would become the U.S. Coast Guard)
  • 3.
    The Coast Guardis … Military One of the five armed forces Multi-mission Has 11 statutory missions Maritime Oldest, continuous seagoing service
  • 4.
    The U.S. MaritimeEnvironment 95,000 miles of shoreline 3.5 million square miles of Exclusive Economic Zone 200 miles out from the coast One of every six jobs is marine-related More than one-third of the gross national product originates in coastal areas
  • 5.
    Maritime Transportation Morethan 90% of the world’s trade is carried on the water Carries 78% of all U.S. international trade Transports 66% of all U.S. crude oil Produces thousands of U.S. jobs
  • 6.
    Seas provide opportunities/threatsAvenue for commerce and world trade Ability to have military power beyond our shores to protect U.S. interests Highways for criminal and terrorist threats that honor no national borders drug-smuggling submarine
  • 7.
  • 8.
    The Coast Guardis always ready to provide Maritime safety Maritime security Maritime stewardship … through 11 statutory missions
  • 9.
    1. Ports, Waterways,and Coastal Security In an average day, the Coast Guard: Provides a presence in all major ports Does security boardings of 5 high interest vessels Provides a waterside escort for 4 military supply ships
  • 10.
    2. Drug InterdictionIn an average day, the Coast Guard: Keeps ½ ton of cocaine off the streets warning shots off-loading seized drugs
  • 11.
    3. Aids toNavigation In an average day, the Coast Guard: Services 49 buoys and fixes 21 discrepancies (such as buoys moved by a hurricane)
  • 12.
    4. Search andRescue In an average day, the Coast Guard: Saves 13 lives Responds to 64 search and rescue cases Saves $260 thousand in property Rescues 77% of mariners in imminent danger
  • 13.
    5. Living MarineResources In an average day, the Coast Guard: Boards 15 fishing boats to ensure compliance with fisheries laws
  • 14.
    6. Marine SafetyIn an average day, the Coast Guard: Screens 679 commercial vessels and 170,000 crew and passengers Investigates 12 marine accidents Issues 200 credentials to merchant mariners
  • 15.
    7. Defense ReadinessIn an average day, the Coast Guard: Has 6 patrol boats and 400 personnel: Protecting Iraq’s maritime oil infrastructure Training Iraqi naval forces Keeping sea lanes secure in the Arabian Gulf
  • 16.
    8. Migrant InterdictionIn an average day, the Coast Guard: Interdicts 10 undocumented migrants trying to enter the United States
  • 17.
    9. Marine EnvironmentalProtection In an average day, the Coast Guard: Responds to and investigates 10 pollution incidents Inspects 70 containers Inspects 33 vessels for compliance with air emissions standards
  • 18.
    10. Ice OperationsIn 2009, the Coast Guard: Performed domestic icebreaking to keep waterways open for commercial traffic Assisted 479 ice transits Enabled the transport of $2 billion worth of cargo Brought scientists to the Arctic to map the floor of the Arctic Ocean and for studies on polar bears, ocean sediment and methane gas
  • 19.
    11. Other LawEnforcement (foreign fishing vessel law enforcement) Assisting China with fisheries law enforcement In 2009, the Coast Guard: Detected 112 foreign fishing vessels illegally encroaching the U.S. Exclusive Economic Zone Conducted cooperative patrols with China for fishery enforcement in the North Pacific
  • 20.
  • 21.
    Unique Law EnforcementAuthority Posse Comitatus Act Federal law that prohibits using the military for law enforcement Coast Guard is exempt
  • 22.
    Personnel Strength of Armed Forces (as of February 2010) Service Military personnel Percent of total Army 558,840 38% Air Force 335,490 23% Navy 329,571 22% Marine Corps 204,133 14% Coast Guard 43,449 3% Total 1,471,483 100%
  • 23.
    Our People Full-timeMilitary: 42,400 Civilian: 7,900 Part-time Reservists: 6,900 Volunteers Auxiliarists: 30,000 Our military strength – about the same size as the New York City police force
  • 24.
    Budget and ResourcesFiscal Year 2010 Budget: $10.1 billion Resources Cutters: 250 (65 ft. +) Boats: 1,784 Aircraft: 198
  • 25.
    Current Issues DeepwaterHorizon oil spill response in Gulf of Mexico Modernize business practices Help develop ocean policy recommendations for the President Help create security strategy for threats from small vessels Small vessel attack on a ship
  • 26.
    Current Issues (cont’d) Face budget challenges in a fiscally constrained environment Reduce invasive aquatic species Replace aging assets (e.g., ships with six decades of service) Asian Carp: a threat to the Great Lakes
  • 27.
    Current Issues (cont’d) Plan for future mission responsibilities in the Arctic Create a “green Coast Guard” Coast Guard four-acre solar array field in Petaluma, Calif.
  • 28.
    America’s Maritime Guardian:… In the heartland … In the ports … On the seas … Around the globe
  • 29.
  • 30.

Editor's Notes

  • #2 [Note to speakers: a minimal amount of notes are provided as most of the slides are designed to be talked from based on the information on the slides. For the slides that do have notes, they are additional to what is on the slide, so please do not rely on the notes as your only script.]
  • #6 Maritime transportation is the lifeblood of our national economy and fuels the global economy.
  • #8 Locations of the Coast Guard’s major commands
  • #12 Help boats and ships determine their position or safe course and warn of dangers or obstructions to navigation, such as rocks or shallow water. Imagine driving a car across the country with no traffic lights or signs, lane markings, place or direction signs, or warning signs for sharp turns or cliff edges -- and you can imagine how important aids to navigation are for maritime traffic.
  • #14 The nation’s waterways and their ecosystems are vital to the country’s economy and health.  The Coast Guard helps stop the degradation of our ocean’s natural resources associated with maritime activities.  This includes ensuring that marine species, such as whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals, sea lions, and walruses, are protected.  The Coast Guard also enforces fisheries laws and regulations.
  • #15 Ensures the safety of tens of thousands of mariners millions of passengers on ferries and other vessels and tens of millions of recreational boaters Protects the environment from oil and chemical spills Certifies and licenses more than 200,000 mariners
  • #16 By statute, the Coast Guard is an armed force, operating in the joint arena at any time and as a specialized service under the Navy in time of war or when directed by the President. It also has responsibilities for the U.S. Maritime Defense Zone, countering potential threats to American's coasts, ports, and inland waterways through operations and exercises. Outside of U.S. coastal waters, the Coast Guard assists foreign naval and maritime forces through training and joint operations. For example, one of our Law Enforcement Detachments assisted in anti-piracy operations off of Somalia in February, 2009, capturing 16 suspected pirates. Many of the world’s maritime nations conduct missions that resemble those of the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard is a powerful role model that is in ever-increasing demand abroad.
  • #18 Prevents and responds to oil and chemical spills into waterways Stops unauthorized ocean dumping Averts the introduction of invasive species
  • #20 We prevent illegal foreign fishing from taking place in our Exclusive Economic Zone, 200 miles out from the U.S. shoreline. This protects our maritime borders and ensures the health of U.S. fisheries. We also enforce international agreements on illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activity on the high seas. In 2008, we participated in an international high seas drift net enforcement campaign in the north Pacific ocean. During this campaign, the Coast Guard interdicted two Chinese vessels, helping Chinese officials to seize them. In this photo is one of the Chinese fishing vessels suspected of illegal large-scale high-seas drift net fishing nearly 500 miles east of Japan.
  • #26 4th bullet: Terrorists used small vessels to bomb USS Cole in Yemen in 2000 and to slip into India for attacks in Mumbai in 2008.
  • #27 Photo of zebra mussels: an invasive species first found in the Great Lakes in 1988. Invasive species occur via ballast water, vessel hulls, anchors, and equipment Coast Guard Cutter Acushnet’s ship wheel that has been in service since 1944
  • #28 The reduction of Arctic ice will open the area up to Commercial shipping Commercial fishing Mining, drilling Tourism Boundary disputes In Baltimore, the Coast Guard created a renewable energy center that burns gas from a nearby landfill. The Coast Guard’s only shipyard is now 100% self-powered by renewable energy. Goal is for the Coast Guard to adopt green technology and practices into any new design and construction projects