USCG issued guidelines for the AMSCs and AMSPs required for U.S. Ports

The United States Coast Guard has issued a circular with guidelines for the Area Maritime Security Committees and Area Maritime Security Plans required for U.S. Ports.

This document was issued on 20 July 2023.

Purpose

The purpose of this Circular is to:

• provide guidance to field commanders, the maritime community, and Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC) members on the development and maintenance of Area Maritime Security (AMS) Assessments and Area Maritime Security Plans (AMSPs);
• provide guidance on the responsibilities of the Captain of the Port (COTP) acting as the Federal Maritime Security Coordinator (FMSC);
• provide a common template for AMSPs;
• address port security issues that are the shared responsibility of the port stakeholders and AMSCs; and
• promote unity of effort among all stakeholders with maritime security interests at the port level.

Action

COTPs will give the guidance in this Circular the widest dissemination to the maritime community and AMSC members. COTPs, with the assistance of the AMSCs, should follow the guidance provided in Enclosures (1) through (7) regarding the development of AMS Assessments, and the development, review, exercising, and updating of AMSPs.

Background

The MTSA required the Coast Guard to coordinate joint planning for anti-terrorism efforts in the port environment to enhance deterrence and response to Transportation Security Incidents (TSIs) and maritime terrorism threats. The MTSA also required designation of both the geographic areas for which AMSPs were required to be prepared, and a Coast Guard official to serve as the FMSC for each area. AMSPs are required to be integrated with facility and vessel security plans (when required by MTSA), and adequate to deter a TSI when implemented in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Transportation Systems Sector-Specific Plan. The SAFE Port Act expanded mandatory content of AMSPs to include a Salvage Response Plan (SRP) to ensure that waterways are cleared, and that commerce through the Nation’s ports is reestablished as efficiently and quickly as possible after a maritime TSI. The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 further expanded mandatory content to include area response and recovery protocols to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a TSI. Reference (g) required incorporation of cyber risks into the AMSP. AMSP content requirements established by 33 CFR parts 101-103 include the requirements of References (a) through (g), for which maritime community engagement is essential.

Major Changes

Change 6 provides updated guidance to comply with References (a) through (c) and (g). As a result, Enclosures (1) through (7) were revised accordingly. Enclosures (1), (3), (4), (5) and (7) include minor verbiage, grammatical, or formatting updates. Enclosure (2) had substantial updates, especially in sections 4000, 5000, and 6000. Enclosure (6), the Salvage Response Plan (SRP) Template was completely updated to meet the needs of both the AMSP and the Area Contingency Plan. Additionally, Enclosure (5) is now a required annex to include in the AMSP.

References

(a) Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) of 2002, Public Law (Pub. L.) 107- 295

(b) Security and Accountability for Every Port Act (SAFE Port Act) of 2006, Pub. L. 109- 347, as amended

(c) Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010, Pub. L. 111-281

(d) Magnuson Act of 1950, 46 United States Code (U.S.C.) §§ 70051-70054

(e) Regulations Relating to the Safeguarding of Vessels, Harbors, Ports, and
Waterfront Facilities of the United States, Executive Order 10173, as
amended

(f) Ports and Waterways Safety Act (PWSA) of 1972, 46 U.S.C. §§ 70001-70036,
Pub. L. 92-340

(g) Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act of 2018, Pub. L. 115-254

(h) Navigation and Navigable Waters, Maritime Security: 33 Code of Federal
Regulation (CFR) Parts 101-106

(i) Risk Management (RM), COMDTINST 3500.3 (series)

(j) Sensitive Security Information (SSI), DHS Management Directive 11056.1 (series)

(k) Sensitive Security Information (SSI) Handling Procedures, Navigation and Vessel Inspection Circular No. 10-04, COMDTPUB P16700.4 (series)

(l) Classified Information Management Program, COMDTINST M5510.23 (series)

(m) Physical Security and Force Protection Program, COMDTINST M5530.1 (series)

(n) Area Maritime Security Plan (AMSP) and Area Maritime Security (AMS)
Assessment Development and Maintenance Process, COMDTINST
16601.28 (series)

Enclosures

(1) Guidance for Development and Maintenance of Area Maritime Security
Committees (AMSC)

(2) Guidance for Development and Maintenance of Area Maritime
Security Plans (AMSP)

(3) Area Maritime Security (AMS) Assessment

(4) Area Maritime Security Exercise Program Guidance

(5) Cybersecurity Risk Plan Template

(6) Salvage Response Plan Template

(7) Glossary of Terms and Definitions

For more information, please see the document below (available only to subscribers):

Guidelines for the Area Maritime Security Committees and Area Maritime Security Plans Required for U.S. Ports