1. U.S. COAST GUARD JNLWD INDUSTRY DAY
Good morning, I’m RADM James Olson. Today, I’ll be providing you a brief description of a recent Coast Guard law enforcement case which clearly depicts the Coast Guard’s needs and requirements.

2. M/V GAVIOTA 35 ft Cuban Government Vessel 15 illegal migrants on board
Used manually deployed RGES line to stop vessel
Boarding Team used OC pepper spray to forcibly board vessel
The Coast Guard uses non-lethal weapons everyday. Recently the Coast Guard employed several types of non-lethal weapons to stop a non-compliant vessel off the coast of Florida. Since this vessel was Owned by the Cuban government it was critical that the migrants on board not be allowed to enter US waters. When the vessel refused to stop the Running Gear Entanglement System was manually deployed. Unfortunately none of the units on scene had the Surface Launchers on board, but the nets themselves from the Surface Launched systems were used. The migrants countered by using boats hooks to deflect the line from fouling their propellers. Some of the migrants even dove into the water to cut the entangled line from their propellers.
Once the vessel was stopped, the boarding team forced themselves on board using OC pepper spray. Again the migrants attempted to counter by wearing swimming masks to protect their eyes. The migrants attacked the boarding team with fire extinguishers, wooden planks and a wooden stool. The boarding team used expandable batons and other techniques to gain control of the situation. The vessel and the migrants were returned to Cuba.

3. M/V GAVIOTA
The Coast Guard uses non-lethal weapons everyday. Recently the Coast Guard employed several types of non-lethal weapons to stop a non-compliant vessel off the coast of Florida. Since this vessel was Owned by the Cuban government it was critical that the migrants on board not be allowed to enter US waters. When the vessel refused to stop the Running Gear Entanglement System was manually deployed. Unfortunately none of the units on scene had the Surface Launchers on board, but the nets themselves from the Surface Launched systems were used. The migrants countered by using boats hooks to deflect the line from fouling their propellers. Some of the migrants even dove into the water to cut the entangled line from their propellers.
Once the vessel was stopped, the boarding team forced themselves on board using OC pepper spray. Again the migrants attempted to counter by wearing swimming masks to protect their eyes. The migrants attacked the boarding team with fire extinguishers, wooden planks and a wooden stool. The boarding team used expandable batons and other techniques to gain control of the situation. The vessel and the migrants were returned to Cuba.

4. COAST GUARD’S NEEDS AND REQUIREMENTS
Stopping non-compliant vessels
Render person incapable of performing activity
Advance technology
Coast Guard is the ideal test bed
The Coast Guard’s battlefield is here in the US, along the shorelines and within our ports, harbors and waterways. Everyday in the execution of our missions of law enforcement and maritime security we have the need for non-lethal weapons.
The Coast Guard’s number one requirement continues to be stopping non-compliant vessels. As illustrated in the M/V Gaviota case, RGES does work but counters are already being used. We need to push technology to develop other ways to stop vessels.
The Coast Guard is the ideal test bed for deploying non-lethal weapons in an operational environment. We would welcome any opportunity to operationally test any new technologies.