2. COMDTINST 16618.8 AWW is an outreach and awareness effort
Gives the Coast Guard Auxiliary significant responsibility for the AWW program
Assigns the FMSC the responsibility for coordinating the AWW program within their area of responsibility.
AWW grew out of local Marine Domain Awareness programs and Maine Coast Watch following 9/11.
The goal is to have as many “eyes and ears” as possible on the water who are familiar with their local area, would recognize activity which was unusual or out of place, and know who to report such discrepancies to.
Commandant/COMDTINST assigns to the Coast Guard Aux. Significant responsibility for implementing the America’s Waterway Watch Program.
AWW > A National Program > Local Focus
- Provide overall direction
- Validate local initiatives
- Provide Resources and Training support
- Promote consistency and awareness of best practices
- Recognizes regional differences and promotes local program autonomy while providing national
oversight and support.

3. Commandant’s Strategy
AWW directly supports two main elements of the Commandant’s Maritime Strategy for Homeland Security:
Increasing Maritime Domain Awareness
Leveraging Partnerships to mitigate security risks
Marine Domain Awareness is a phrase and a theme which is frequently repeated anytime the AWW program or the Commandant’s goals are discussed.
MDA is defined as “the effective understanding of objects and activities in or near the Marine environment that could affect American’s security, safety, economy or environment.”
Coast Guard has a long history of working cooperatively with state and local law enforcement agencies. Coast Guard has recently entered into memoranda of agreement with some of these agencies to support the security of our nations ports and waterways.

4. Background September 11, 2001 Need to improve Homeland Security
Need for a force multiplier*
Local Initiatives
MTSA
National Oversight Program
Within one week of the Sept 11th attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon Admiral James Loy, Coast Guard Commandant, stated that the Port Security Mission would be placed on a priority level equal to that of SAR.
DHS established
*Additional CG Aux involvement and established the need for American Waterways Watch
MDA / Coast Watch Programs / Increased Harbor Patrols
MTSA – Maritime Transportation Security Act, was passed by Congress on November 25, MTSA imposes specific requirements on the commercial maritime industry, both shipping and waterfront facilities. It also requires owners and operators to “without delay, report activities that may result in a transportation security incident.” (33 CFR )

5. Background With more than- 95,000 miles of coastline
290,000 square miles of waterway
70 million recreational boaters
The U.S. Coast Guard and local first
responders cannot do the job alone.
In his March 3rd, 2005 testimony before Congress, Admiral Collins provided the following information on Coast Guard performance for FY 2004.
36,000 Port Security Patrols
6,900 Air Patrols
19,000 Security Boardings
7,200 vessel escorts
32,000 SAR Calls
10,000 Commercial Vessel Boardings
24,000 Reports of Water Pollution/HAZMAT Release
CG AUX 34,000 members contributed 3 million volunteer hours.
Importance of USPS-USCG AUX partnership.

6. “We will not tire, we will not falter, and we will not fail.”
President George W. Bush
President Bush set the tone for the war on terrorism.

7. Goal
“The goal of AWW is to help prevent acts of terrorism and other illegal activity that jeopardizes maritime homeland security by having members of the maritime and recreational boating industries, as well as the boating public, recognize and report to appropriate authorities suspicious activity that may be an indicator of potential terrorism.”
Taken from COMDTINST , Implementation of the America’s Waterway Watch program.
Instruction received final approval on 10 Feb 2005.
Provide a deterrent through vigilance.
Educate the Marine Industry and the Boating Public
Provide a means for the public to become involved

8. SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY
COMDTINST states that suspicious activity “refers, but is not limited, to activity regarding a vessel or pleasure craft, marine structure or waterfront facility, person, vehicle, cargo or stores, which a reasonably prudent person would consider out of the ordinary or unusual based on the facts and circumstances for that situation.”
Those in law enforcement will find this definition familiar and similar to the general definition for probable cause.

9. Suspicious Activity People asking suspicious questions:
How many security guards are on duty?
How close can I get to the cruise ship?
How does this bridge operate?
What is stored in those tanks?
Refer to exerps from FIR’s.

10. Suspicious Activity Something out of place:
A new 55 gallon drum under a bridge.
A pleasure boat docked at a regulated commercial facility.
Vehicles parked outside a fenced in facility.
People taking suspicious photographs.

11. Report Suspicious Activity To
911 for immediate danger to life or property
For suspicious activity call the National Response Center Hotline –
WATCH or

12. WHERE YOUR INFORMATION GOES
SUSPICIOUS
ACTIVITY
AN EMERGENCY
YOU
Exchange information as necessary
NRC
WATCH
911
Center
STATE,
REGIONAL,
FEDERAL
AUTHORITIES
LOCAL
RESPONSE

13. Information You Provide
Your Information
Actionable
Intelligence
Information You Provide
Incidents may be repeated over a period of time. Reporting units may not be aware that a certain activity has been repeated at a particular location, or that a certain suspicious activity has occurred over a period of time at a variety of locations. As individual reporting units, you form the base of the information pyramid.

14. MTSA
Requires commercial vessels and facilities to report suspicious activity
Requires each COTP/FMSC to form an AREA MARITIME SECURITY COMMITTEE (AMSC) and with the COMMITTEE create an AREA MARITIME SECURITY PLAN.

15. Partnering Agencies Coast Guard Auxiliary U.S. Power Squadron
Marina Operators Association of America
National Association of State Boating Law Administrators
Local Yacht Clubs
Fishing Supply Stores
Dive Shops
Bridge Operators

16. WHAT TO DO Observe and report
- NEVER approach someone who may present a personal risk to you
You know what’s normal and what’s not…
first, report your location. Then….
-Provide details…description of
Individuals, Vessels, Activity
When we ask people to become involved in the AWW program, we are asking them to become another set of eyes and ears on the water. “OBSERVE AND REPORT.”
DO NOT BECOME PERSONALLY INVOLVED IN SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY SITUATIONS.

17. Who to Contact In case of Emergency: 911 or USCG via Channel 16
National Response Center
or WATCH
( )
NRC Website is
Remember – Channel 16 is an open frequency – anyone with a marine radio or receiver can hear you.
Probably best used only as a last resort for reporting suspicious activity.

18. QUESTIONS ?