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2016 Area Maritime Security Training exercise kicks off
A Functional Exercise testing maritime stakeholder response capabilities to a disruption of the maritime transportation system is underway at the Homeland Security Emergency Operations Center on Capitol Hill. The purpose of the exercise is to enable hands-on decisions and actions regarding security, recovery and salvage plans for a security incident that results in a port closure.
Exercise Scenario—At 9am, on April 13, 2016, watch standers at U.S. Coast Guard Sector Guam received notification of an explosion in Tanapag Harbor, Saipan. The blast occurred aboard a cargo vessel carrying containers filled with general cargo and some limited quantities of hazardous materials.
First responders are on scene and securing the area on shore and around the vessel. Notifications have been made to all port stakeholders and responders with jurisdiction for this event.
The Unified Command, which help stage the exercise, includes the Commonwealth Ports Authority, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Ship Management Company Representatives, and the U.S. Coast Guard.
Multiple resources from local, regional and federal agencies are participating in order to validate and update response plans, capture lessons learned and best practices.These types of exercises are run annually and are a multi-agency response to a Transportation Security Incident (TSI). Command and control coordination, mitigation of port closure and reestablishing commerce in a safe and timely manner will be tested.
