Maritime Safety and Security Team

A Maritime Safety and Security Team, or MSST, is a counter-terrorism team of the United States Coast Guard established to protect local maritime assets. It is also a harbor and inshore patrol and security team that includes detecting and, if necessary, stopping or arresting submerged divers, using the Underwater Port Security System. It is the only special operations group that can arrest submerged divers.

United States Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) emblem

MSSTs were created under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) in direct response to the terrorist attacks on 11 Sept. 2001, and they are a part of the United States Department of Homeland Security's layered strategy directed at protecting seaports and waterways. MSSTs provide waterborne and a modest level of shore-side counter-terrorism force protection for strategic shipping, high interest vessels, and critical infrastructure. MSSTs are a quick response force capable of rapid nationwide deployment via air, ground or sea transportation in response to changing threat conditions and evolving Maritime Homeland Security (MHS) mission requirements. Multi-mission capability facilitates augmentation for other selected Coast Guard missions.

MSST personnel receive training in Advanced Tactical Boat Operations and counter-terrorism force protection at the Joint Maritime Training Center at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

The MSSTs operate as part of the Coast Guard's Deployable Operations Group (DOG); now called Deployable Specialized Forces (DSF), they are under operational control of the Coast Guard's corresponding Pacific and Atlantic Area commands, as well as an active reserve component of the White House on request.

Mission
  • Maritime Security Response Team hook and climb onto a target
  • A boatcrew from Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91114 conducts high-speed maneuvers during a security patrol south of the Port of Miami
  • Coast Guard tactical CQB training

Modeled after the Port Security Unit (PSU) and Law Enforcement Detachment (LEDET) programs, MSSTs provide a complementary non-redundant capability designed to close critical security gaps in United States strategic seaports. MSSTs are staffed to support continuous law enforcement operations both ashore and afloat. In addition, MSSTs:

  • Jointly staffed to maximize effectiveness executing Port, Waterways, and Coastal Security (PWCS) operations (enforce security zones, port state control boarding, protection of military out-loads and major marine events, augment shore-side security at waterfront facilities, detect WMD weapons/agents, and participate in port level counter-terrorism exercises).
  • Provide enhanced port safety and security and law enforcement capabilities to the economic or military significant port where they are based.
  • Deploy in support of National Special Security Events (NSSEs) requiring Coast Guard presence, such as OpSail, Olympics, Republican & Democratic National Conventions, major disasters or storm recovery operations.
  • Prototype/employ specialized capabilities to enhance mission performance (K-9 program, radiation detectors, dive program, vertical insertion, running gear entangling systems, less-than-lethal weapons, etc.).
  • Deploy on board cutters and other naval vessels for port safety and security, drug law enforcement, migrant interdiction, or other maritime homeland security mission requirements.
  • Support Naval Coastal Warfare requirements during Homeland Defense (HLD) and in accordance with long standing agreements with DOD and the Combatant Commanders (protect strategic shipping, major naval combatants and critical infrastructure at home and abroad)

Capabilities
A Maritime Safety and Security Team member conducts a vertical insertion from an HH-60 Jayhawk helicopter
  • Capabilities
  • Crew members from a U.S. Coast Guard LEDET practice exothermal breaching techniques
  • A member of the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime security Response Team uses a torch to cut through a ship's watertight door
  • U.S. Coast Guard's MSST fast-ropes onto the flight deck of USS Freedom (LCS 1)
  • Coast Guard MSST K-9 team supports the 58th Presidential Inauguration security
  • A MSRT member trains with Royal Jordanian Marines

Commissioning schedule

Personnel
MSST Over the Horizon Boat

Each MSST has 65 active duty personnel.

See also

References
  1. http://www.transportation.org/sites/security/docs/10_us_coast_guard_overview.pdf%5B%5D
  2. http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/834/65859/
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