1. OVERALL CLASSIFICATION UNCLASSIFIED
Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) Overview and NCAGS Support for IMCMEX 13 CAPT Keith Bruce Deputy Director, NCAGS Enterprise
OVERALL CLASSIFICATION
UNCLASSIFIED

2. Mission (OPNAVINST 3450.18B, 16 Nov 07)
Assist the Theater/Operational Commander in managing risk by providing situational awareness and real-time clarity of the merchant shipping picture and, secondarily, to ensure the safe passage of merchant shipping in a crisis or contingency.
(OPNAVINST B, 16 Nov 07)

3. Background
The Naval Cooperation and Guidance for Shipping (NCAGS) organization:
In the US Navy (and most navies), a Reserve-only function
Originally known as Naval Control of Shipping (NCS)
Changed to Naval Control and Protection of Shipping (NCAPS) circa 2000
Now focused on recommendation and guidance for commercial shipping
Now designed to address threats that are in littoral regions that include choke points in navigation

4. The NCAGS Bridge
NCAGS
The naval warfare discipline that provides the operational interface between the Navy and commercial shipping

5. Two Primary Tasks Provide White Shipping Picture Guidance to Shipping
Maritime Infrastructure – floating and fixed
Working relationships with the maritime industry
Coordination with other maritime agencies/authorities
Merchant mariners on staff
Guidance to Shipping
Threat briefs
Naval warnings
Embarked liaison officers (LNOs)
Convoys, reporting gates, directed tracks, etc.

6. Expeditionary Shipping Coordination Center (ESCC)
The ESCC is the link between naval forces and the merchant shipping industry
Reserve Component activation and movement to theater
24/7 operations
Established to support day-to-day and contingency operations
Gathering and consolidating the merchant shipping Common Operational Picture (COP)
Facilitating information flow between all stakeholders
Becomes a Crisis Response Center (CRC) in a contingency

7. NCAGS Liaison Officers
NCAGS Liaison Officers (LNOs) may be embarked on merchant ships to enhance communications and understanding with the military
Liaison between naval commander and ship master
Brief and inform ship master and officers
Collect and disseminate ship and voyage data
Provide ship masters with situational information
Advises master on movement through NCAGS area
Train and assist master and officers on naval operations
Embarked on selected recommended routes

8. Shipping Coordination Teams
The Shipping Coordination Team (SCT) provides an expeditionary capability to the operational commander
SCTs can be located either ashore or afloat
SCTs provide the capability to manage and disseminate regional commercial shipping information
Fill local gaps in the maritime Common Operational Picture
Depending on commercial traffic density and/or complexity of operations, additional SCTs can be added to meet requirements 8

9. NCAGS BENEFITS To Military Commander To Merchant Shipping
More comprehensive picture of merchant activity.
De-confliction of merchant ships from military operations.
Better understanding of commercial constraints.
Improved counterterrorism capability.
More effective employment of military forces.
Improved counter-piracy capability.
To Merchant Shipping
Improved safety and security in crisis areas.
Maintenance of economic flow.
Minimizing disruptions to passage through military operations.
Quicker reactions to changing threats.
Better understanding of military constraints.
Potential for stabilizing insurance costs.
The benefits are:
To Military Commander
More comprehensive picture of merchant activity. (better understanding of shipping business)
Deconfliction of merchant ships from military operations (cooperation and not control)
Better understanding of commercial constraints.
Improved counterterrorism capability. (because of access to information)
More effective employment of military forces.
Improved counterpiracy capability.
To Merchant Shipping
Improved safety and security in crisis areas. (military pressence in the area)
Maintenance of economic flow (protected business and SLOC)
Minimizing disruptions to passage trough military operations.
Quicker reactions to changing threats. (asking for NCAGS advise)
Better understanding of military constraints. (relationship)
Potential for stabilizing insurance costs. 9 9 9

10. IMCMEX 13 NCAGS Summary of Events Current Participants
Oil Spill Response
Marshalling of Merchant Vessels
Escort of Merchant Vessels through the Strait of Hormuz
Escort of Merchant Vessels through Mine Swept Channel
IMCMEX 13 NCAGS
Summary of Events
MARLO
Maritime Admin (MARAD) Washington DC
CMF
UKMTO
Coalition Escort Ships
Industry Reps (CRC)
NCAGS DENMARK
NCAGS GERMANY
NCAGS BELGIUM
NCAGS UK
NCAGS Norway
1 x LNG
1 x Container Ship
1 x LPG
1 x USNS
1 x UK DDG (HMS DRAGON)
1 x US DDG (WPL)
1 x PC/WPB
2 x UAE Missile Patrol Boats
1 x Qatar Missile Patrol Boats
ISR asset
NAVCENT NCAGS CRC Bah
Crisis Action Center (CAC)
London
Dubai
San Francisco
Norfolk
Current Participants 10 10 10 10

11. Questions?