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Hopefully you view your vessel or Facility Security Plan (FSP) as an important part of your overall security program. But do you know how those plans fit into The Big Picture? Believe it or not, you are an integral part of our nation’s overall strategy to protect critical infrastructure and our Homeland.

One step up from an individual FSP is the local Area Maritime Security Plan. This plan, written by the Area Maritime Security Committee (AMSC), helps guide the Coast Guard Captain of the Port on addressing security issues across the port area.

AMSC’s are made up of private sector representatives as well as various government officials, so you could be a member or simply participate in AMSC meetings if you’d like to contribute beyond your own fence line or gunwale. Check the list of AMSC contact points here, or we at S&A would be glad to introduce you to your local AMSC coordinator at any time.

Those AMSPs feed into higher level maritime security plans, and contribute to plans and strategies at the Department of Homeland Security level. The National Infrastructure Protection Plan (or “NIPP”) organizes critical infrastructure into various Sectors (energy, transportation, healthcare, etc.), and lays out information sharing and partnership frameworks to counter broad threats, such as terrorism, natural disasters, and cyber.

Very recently, DHS published their Strategic Framework for Countering Terrorism and Targeted Violence. One of its goals is to Enhance U.S. Infrastructure Protections and Community Preparedness. Outside of the Coast Guard and DHS, there are other strategies of interest. For example, the National Cyber Strategy specifically addresses maritime cyber security.

These plans and strategies don’t solve all of our security problems, but they do represent hard working public servants and private sector contributors working to protect our nation. At Seebald & Associates, we are proud to work with the many patriots in the maritime industry to do our part in this worthy goal.

As reported in numerous media accounts, coordinated drone strikes have caused extensive damage to crude oil production facilities in Saudi Arabia.

Seebald & Associates has no reason to believe that similar attacks are planned against U.S. oil facilities. Any such warning would come from the Department of Homeland Security, the U.S. Coast Guard, or Federal Bureau of Investigation. Nonetheless, there are actions U.S. maritime facilities can take to better prepare for attacks in the United States, should they occur.

• Ensure your personnel are alert for drone activity near your facility or vessel. Report any drone sightings to the National Response Center at 1-800-424-8802, and to your local Coast Guard Captain of the Port. Terrorists are known to conduct surveillance and to rehearse planned attacks. Reporting enables law enforcement and intelligence agencies to take prompt action, potentially interrupting or stopping a planned attack.

• The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) describes drones as “Unmanned Aircraft Systems” (UAS). For information on FAA rules pertaining to UAS, visit https://www.faa.gov/uas/.

• Review your MARSEC procedures and other contingency plans. A drone attack could result in deaths, injuries, fire, pollution, or damage to critical infrastructure. Well thought out contingency plans can save lives and help you return to business quickly. S&A can help you develop contingency plans that meet your business and security needs.

• After reviewing your plans, conduct a drill or exercise. If properly documented, this could count as one of your Coast Guard required drills or exercise.

• Review your Facility Security Assessment. Does it consider this type of scenario, or other technology or cyber based threats? Unfortunately, terrorists and criminal organizations now have capabilities that were previously only available to the most advanced organizations. FSO/VSOs should work with your organization’s cyber professionals to consider and prepare for cyber-attacks, including combined physical/cyber-attacks.

• Build a strong security culture and remind all your personnel to be alert for suspicious activity. An alert and well trained work force is your best defense.

The Department of Homeland Security, including the U.S. Coast Guard, use various means to notify the public about security concerns. The Coast Guard uses MARSEC (maritime security) Levels to signify elevated threat conditions, and to require the increased security measures specified in Facility Security Plans and Vessel Security Plans.

While the Coast Guard’s MARSEC system is specific to the maritime industry, DHS’s National Terrorist Advisory System is intended for everyone, and does not carry specific requirements. Recently, DHS revised NTAS to include three types of advisories:

• An NTAS “Bulletin” describes current developments or general trends regarding threats of terrorism.
• An “Elevated Alert” warns of a credible threat against the United States that is general in both timing and potential location, and for which it is reasonable to adopt additional protective security measures.
• An “Imminent Alert” is intended to warn of a credible, specific and impending terrorist threat or on-going attack.

The Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security coordinate closely on MARSEC and NTAS activity.

While the thought process behind NTAS and MARSEC are very similar, an NTAS Alert will not necessarily lead to an increase in MARSEC Levels. For example, one can imagine a credible threat scenario against a sector of our economy or area of our nation that does not include a significant maritime nexus, and therefore might not lead to a MARSEC increase.

At Seebald and Associates, we encourage our clients to be aware of both systems. Be sure you understand your own MARSEC responsibilities and are prepared to implement them if and when required. Also, even if the Coast Guard does not raise MARSEC, you may to decide to implement some or all of your MARSEC actions based on an NTAS alert, or any other information that you think suggests a threat to your activities and people.

Seafarer’s Access is in the news once again and it is time to prepare. The Coast Guard’s Office of Port and Facility Compliance recently published a Marine Safety Information Bulletin on this topic, reminding facility operators of the requirements, including key dates.

In plain language, the purpose of the Seafarer’s Access Final Rule is to ensure that waterfront facilities have a way to accommodate mariners who wish to transit through a Maritime Transportation Security Act regulated facility in order to go into town, or to return to or join the ship. The regulation also applies to pilots, and to members of Seafarer welfare organizations, like Seaman’s Church Institute.

Most of us who work with mariners can appreciate the need to treat our seafarers with dignity, and to find ways to improve the quality of their lives without compromising security.

The next milestone in the Seafarer’s Access program is February 3, 2020. By that date, facility operators must have a system for accommodating Seafarer Access documented in their Facility Security Plans. This will require an amendment to your Facility Security Plan. Given that the Coast Guard requires facility operators to submit amendments 60 days in advance, you should be working on those procedures now.

Not sure of what, exactly, is required or how to get it to the Coast Guard for approval? Not to worry, Seebald & Associates are here to help. We have been incorporating Seafarer Access procedures in our audits, and submitting the necessary amendments to the Coast Guard for approval, since the Final Rule was published. We are also incorporating Seafarer Access into Facility Security Assessments and Facility Security Plans.

We are glad to review your plan and develop an amendment that will meet Coast Guard regulations and align with your business operations. With Seebald & Associates, you have access to experts on Seafarer’s Access – and to the finest maritime security risk experts available anywhere.

Calendar year 2019 is almost halfway over and after conducting numerous Facility Security Plan annual mandated audits, we note many Facility Security Officers (FSO), Company Security Officers (CSO), Alternate FSOs, Personnel with Security Duties (PSD) and All Others (AO) are not current on their required Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) training.

This non-conformity is a compliance risk and will draw warnings and citations from a U.S. Coast Guard facility security inspection. It is generally recommended that facility security staff attend a U.S. Coast Guard approved 33 CFR, Part 105 or Part 106 training course at a minimum initially, then every 3-5 years with a refresher course. Depending on when security personnel have been trained, even within the past 5 years, many new MTSA regulation, guidance and policy updates and changes have taken place. Recent topics of significant interest are cyber-security threats, seafarer access, active shooter threats, TWIC card access procedures and cruise terminal screening requirements.

All Seebald & Associates facility security training courses address these topics, and our certified master instructors and Coast Guard-approved training courses fully address and inform students of the new topics. You do not need an audit to know if your training is current and in compliance. To request an FSO, CSO/OCS FSO, PSD, OCS PSD or AO training course or event please contact Ed Seebald at maritime@seebald.com, or phone 716-481-5597, and we will help you meet your MTSA training needs.

The Specific Roles and Responsibilities of Owners and Operators of Regulated Maritime Transportation Security Act for 33 CFR Part 106 Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Facilities

What are the specific duties and responsibilities of MTSA 33 CFR Part 106 Facility Owners and Operators?

33 CFR Part 106 Subpart B – OCS Facility Security Requirements, outlines and describes the roles and responsibilities of owners and operators of 33 CFR Part 106 Facilities.

As mentioned in the previous blogs, the absolute responsibility for a regulated facility’s security management regime starts and ends with the owners and operators. While 33 CFR Parts 106 Subparts B, C and D sections are most familiar to Company Security Officers (CSO) and OCS Facility Security Officers (FSO), Subpart B – OCS Facility Security Requirements, identifies more specific requirements that owners and operators are responsible for. Subpart B also addresses the knowledge, training and experience requirements for CSOs, OCS FSOs, Company or Facility Personnel with Security Duties and All Other persons who work at the facility. For this final blog focusing on owners & operators, we remain focused on owners and operators of 33 CFR Part 106 Facilities and the specific roles and responsibilities of owners and operators are listed below:

• Each OCS facility owner or operator must ensure that the OCS facility operates in compliance with the requirements of Subpart B.
• For each OCS facility, the OCS facility owner or operator must:
  1. Define the security organizational structure for each OCS facility and provide each person exercising security duties or responsibilities within that structure the support needed to fulfill those obligations;
  2. Designate in writing, by name or title, a CSO and an FSO for each OCS facility and identify how those officers can be contacted at any time;
  3. Ensure that a Facility Security Assessment (FSA) is conducted;
  4. Ensure the development and submission for approval of a Facility Security Plan (FSP);
  5. Ensure that the OCS facility operates in compliance with the approved FSP;
  6. Ensure that the TWIC program is properly implemented as set forth in this part, including:
     • Ensuring that only individuals who hold a TWIC and are authorized to be in the secure area are permitted to escort; and
     • Identifying what action is to be taken by an escort, or other authorized individual, should individuals under escort engage in activities other than those for which escorted access was granted.
  7. Ensure that adequate coordination of security issues takes place be- tween OCS facilities and vessels, including the execution of a Declaration of Security (DoS) as required by Subpart B;
  8. Ensure, within 12 hours of notification of an increase in MARSEC Level, implementation of the additional security measures required by the FSP for the new MARSEC Level;
  9. Ensure all breaches of security and security incidents are reported in accordance with part 101 of this sub- chapter;
  10. Ensure consistency between security requirements and safety requirements;
  11. Inform OCS facility personnel of their responsibility to apply for and maintain a TWIC, including the dead- lines and methods for such applications, and of their obligation to inform TSA of any event that would render them ineligible for a TWIC, or which would invalidate their existing TWIC;
  12. Ensure that protocols consistent with 106.260(c) of Subpart B, for dealing with individuals requiring access who report a lost, damaged, or stolen TWIC, or who have applied for and not yet received a TWIC, are in place; and
  13. If applicable, ensure that proto- cols consistent with 106.262 of Subpart B part, for dealing with newly hired employees who have applied for and not yet received a TWIC, are in place.

CSOs and FSOs of CFR Parts 105 & 106, knowing the roles and responsibilities of your owners and operators will help you help them, especially when new persons come on board your facilities in leadership or management roles of your maritime security regime and have no prior experience with MTSA requirements. Remember any violation issued by U.S. Coast Guard security compliance inspectors is permanently recorded in a database that is shared across the Coast Guard.

Owners and operators, security directors and managers, to ensure your plan renewals and announced and unannounced U.S. Coast Guard compliance inspections will pass training standards, register yourself, CSOs, FSOs and Alternates to attend a U.S. Coast Guard approved Seebald & Associates CSO/FSO training course. To view a list of current and upcoming courses and for more information on how to register for a course visit www.seebald.com.

The Specific Roles and Responsibilities of Owners & Operators of Regulated Maritime Transportation Security Act for 33 CFR Part 105 Facilities

What are the specific duties and responsibilities of MTSA 33 CFR Part 105 Facility Owners and Operators?

33 CFR Part 105 Subpart B – Facility Security Requirements, outlines and describes the roles and responsibilities of owners and operators of 33 CFR Part 105 Facilities.

As mentioned in the previous blog, the absolute responsibility for a regulated facility’s security management regime starts and ends with the owners and operators. While 33 CFR Part 105 Subparts B, C and D sections are most familiar to Facility Security Officers (FSO), 33 CFR Part 105 Subpart B – Facility Security Requirements, identifies more specific requirements that owners and operators are responsible for. Subpart B also addresses the knowledge, training and experience requirements for Facility Security Officers, Maritime Personnel with Security Duties and All Other persons who work at the facility. For this blog we are focused on owners and operators of 33 CFR Part 105 Facilities and the specific roles and responsibilities of owners and operators are listed below:

• Each facility owner or operator must ensure that the facility operates in compliance with the requirements of Subpart B.
• For each facility, the facility owner or operator must:
  1. Define the security organizational structure and provide each person exercising security duties and responsibilities within that structure the support needed to fulfill those obligations;
  2. Designate, in writing, by name or by title, a Facility Security Officer (FSO) and identify how the officer can be contacted at any time;
  3. Ensure that a Facility Security Assessment (FSA) is conducted;
  4. Ensure the development and submission for approval of an FSP;
  5. Ensure that the facility operates in compliance with the approved FSP;
  6. Ensure that the TWIC program is properly implemented as set forth in Subpart B, including:
     • Ensuring that only individuals who hold a TWIC and are authorized to be in the secure area in accordance with the FSP are permitted to escort;
     • Identifying what action is to be taken by an escort, or other authorized individual, should individuals under escort engage in activities other than those for which escorted access was granted; and
     • Notifying facility employees, and passengers if applicable, of what parts of the facility are secure areas
     • Identifying what action is to be taken by an escort, or other authorized individual, should individuals under escort engage in activities other than those for which escorted access was granted; and
     • Notifying facility employees, and passengers if applicable, of what parts of the facility are secure areas and public access areas, as applicable, and ensuring such areas are clearly marked.
  7. Ensure that restricted areas are controlled, and TWIC provisions are coordinated, if applied to such restricted areas;
  8. Ensure that adequate coordination of security issues takes place between the facility and vessels that call on it, including the execution of a Declaration of Security (DoS) as required by Subpart B;
  9. Ensure coordination of shore leave for vessel personnel or crew change- out, as well as access through the facility for visitors to the vessel (including representatives of seafarers’ welfare and labor organizations), with vessel operators in advance of a vessel’s arrival. In coordinating such leave, facility owners or operators may refer to treaties of friendship, commerce, and navigation between the U.S. and other nations;
  10. Ensure, within 12 hours of notification of an increase in MARSEC Level, implementation of the additional security measures required for the new MARSEC Level;
  11. Ensure security for unattended vessels moored at the facility;
  12. Ensure the report of all breaches of security and transportation security incidents to the National Response Center in accordance with Part 101 of Subchapter H;
  13. Ensure consistency between security requirements and safety requirements;
  14. Inform facility personnel of their responsibility to apply for and maintain a TWIC, including the deadlines and methods for such applications, and of their obligation to inform TSA of any event that would render them ineligible for a TWIC, or which would invalidate their existing TWIC;
  15. Ensure that protocols consistent with section 105.255(c) of Subpart B, for dealing with individuals requiring access who report a lost, damaged, or stolen TWIC, or who have applied for and not yet received a TWIC, are in place; and
  16. If applicable, ensure that protocols consistent with 105.257 of Subpart B, for dealing with newly hired employees who have applied for and not yet received a TWIC, are in place.

FSOs of CFR Parts 105, knowing the roles and responsibilities of your owners and operators will help you help them, especially when new persons come on board your facilities in leadership or management roles of your maritime security regime and have no prior experience with MTSA requirements. Remember any violation issued by U.S. Coast Guard security compliance inspectors is permanently recorded in a database that is shared across the Coast Guard.

Owners and operators, security directors and managers, to ensure your plan renewals and announced and unannounced U.S. Coast Guard compliance inspections will pass training standards, register yourself, FSOs and Alternates to attend a U.S. Coast Guard approved Seebald & Associates CSO/FSO training course. To view a list of current and upcoming courses and for more information on how to register for a course visit www.seebald.com .

The General Roles and Responsibilities of Owners & Operators of Regulated Maritime Transportation Security Act for 33 CFR Facilities and Outer Continental Shelf Facilities.

What are the roles and responsibilities of owners and operators of 33 CFR Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA) Facilities and Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) Facilities?

Many of our Seebald & Associates International blogs over the past several years have focused on 33 CFR Part 105 Facility Security Officers (FSOs), Maritime Personnel with Security Duties (PSD) and more recently Part 106 OCS Company Security Officers (CSO)/OCS FSOs. In this month of May 2019, we will bring you some important information about maritime security management and organization roles and responsibilities for 33 CFR Part 105 & 106 facilities.

The absolute responsibility for a regulated facility’s security management regime starts and ends with the owners and operators. While 33 CFR Parts 105 & 106 Subparts B, C and D sections are most familiar to CSOs and FSOs, Subpart Part A – General, identifies several mandatory requirements that owners and operators are responsible for.

Why is this important for CSOs/FSOs to know? In a successful maritime security regime, it makes strong operational sense for CSOs/FSOs to know and fully understand all the requirements below their positions and above. The regulations permit owners and operators of facilities to designate personnel with the CSO and FSO duties in a relegated fashion, but regardless of designation, owners and operators are ultimately responsible in the eyes of the regulator, the U. S. Coast Guard. Any security non-compliance issues may result in a citation to the owner and operator, CSO or FSO, and any critical citations may impact the facility’s ability to conduct its normal operations. These mandatory requirements can result in loss of profits, productivity and services, and can impact shareholder opinion of how their investments are being managed.

Areas of 33 CFR Parts 105 & 106 Subpart A of significance are Applicability, Exemptions, Compliance dates, Compliance documentation, Non-compliance, Maritime Security (MARSEC) Directives and Rights of Appeal.

• Applicability – describes to owners and operators all the types of facilities and OCS facilities that are regulated under 33 CFR and required to have maritime security regimes in order to operate.
• Exemptions – describe circumstances that owners and operators can expect to not comply with as long as they follow the local U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port (COTP) conditions. Failure to follow the COTP conditions may result in an exemption being withdrawn and the owners and operators must then comply with all the 33 CFR maritime security regime requirements.
• Compliance dates – establishes mandatory dates the owners and operators must have their facility’s maritime security regime in place in order to operate. In some cases, interim FSPs and security operations are approved pending final submissions. For example, during the construction, drilling and production phases of OCS facility operations, owners and operators must demonstrate to the COTP/Officer in Charge Marine Inspection for the Gulf of Mexico (U.S. Coast Guard District 8 OCS Division), they incorporate appropriate security measures throughout each phase and give advanced notice as to when they are shifting from one phase to another. Following the initial facility security assessment and FSP, there are set compliance dates going forward for renewals of the facility’s security regime requirements.
• Compliance documentation – directs owners and operators which security regime records are to be kept and the duration of required maintenance. Also directs the five-year resubmission and approval cycle for the FSP.
• Non-compliance – defines actions taken by the owner or operator when the facility must temporarily deviate from Subpart A requirements.
• MARSEC Directives – specify each owner or operator subject to Subpart A must comply with instructions contained in a MARSEC Directive issued under 33 CFR Part 101.405.
• Rights of Appeal – states any person directly affected by a decision or action taken under Subpart A, by or on behalf of the U.S. Coast Guard may appeal as described in Part 101.420.

CSOs and FSOs of CFR Parts 105 & 106, knowing the roles and responsibilities of your owners and operators will help you help them, especially when new persons come on board your facilities in leadership or management roles of your maritime security regime and have no prior experience with MTSA requirements. Remember any violation issued by U.S. Coast Guard security compliance inspectors is permanently recorded in a database that is shared across the Coast Guard.

Owners and operators, security directors and managers, to ensure your plan renewals and announced and unannounced U.S. Coast Guard compliance inspections will pass training standards, register your CSOs, FSOs/Alternates to attend a U.S. Coast Guard approved Seebald & Associates CSO/FSO training course. To view a list of current and upcoming courses and for more information on how to register for a course visit www.seebald.com.

The United States Coast Guard formally approved Seebald & Associates’ Outer Continental Shelf Facility Security Officer Course confirming that this course adheres to the rigorous standards specified in Coast Guard regulations and policies. This course meets the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 professional competencies of Outer Continental Shelf Facility Security Officers and Company Security Officers, and joins Seebald & Associates’ Facility Security Officer and Personnel with Security Duties courses that have also been approved by the Coast Guard. The newly approved course has two near-term convenings, April 16-18 in Houston, TX and July 16-18 in New Orleans, LA. Visit www.seebald.com to register today, courses fill up quickly.

This is the first Coast Guard approved course specifically for 33 CFR Part 106 OCS facilities. This approved course is a milestone for the marine industry and maritime security training and consulting community. Coast Guard regulations ensure that approved training courses cover all required topics for the complex marine industry. Course approval also indicates that the instructors are themselves experienced and knowledgeable, and the course employs professional training and evaluation techniques to ensure the students learn and retain the required knowledge.

The offshore industry is a cornerstone component of our nation’s energy infrastructure and the marine transportation system. With the United States now being a major exporter and the world’s leading producer of oil and gas, security in the offshore energy sector is more important than ever. Economic terrorism, piracy, internal threats, inter-state conflicts, transnational organized crime, civil protests, and cyber-attacks are all global security threats that the industry must prepare for.

Seebald and Associates is proud to contribute to the security of the industry through this newly approved training course, and through our other services. Seebald and Associates strongly believes that professional training is the foundation of any security program. Well trained personnel keep their facilities in compliance – and their fellow workers secure.

Seebald and Associates is an active supporting member of the Gulf of Mexico Area Maritime Security Committee. Coast Guard inspectors are coming so be sure to remain in compliance by having your personnel properly trained, your annual compliance audits up to date and your facility security assessments and facility security plans inspection ready. The cost for losing any production time is extremely high at a time when the nation’s dependency on oil and gas production is at its peak.

As mentioned above, our first approved course is scheduled for April 16-18, 2019 in Houston, TX, with our business associate J Conner Consulting Inc, a leader in offshore safety and risk management, providing the venue. The second course is scheduled for July 16-18, 2019 in New Orleans, LA. Registration is currently open for both courses.

“Approved and Certified?” – Not All Maritime Security Training Is the Same – How do you choose the right Course?

Will you choose a U.S. Coast Guard “approved” maritime security training course or not? If you own or operate a Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 & 2010 (MTSA), 33 CFR Part 105 or 106 regulated port facility or outer continental shelf (OCS) facility your Facility Security Officer, Personnel with Security Duties and All Others are required by regulation to be trained. Seebald & Associates International is your go-to U.S. Coast Guard “approved” training course. Each regulated entity must have designated security officers and personnel whose duties are to conduct security activities. MTSA 2002 & 2010 mandate that security personnel must be trained and certified. While maritime security training courses and classes have been offered the past 16 years stemming from the MTSA requirements, “Not All Maritime Security Training Is the Same”.

To choose a fully qualified and Coast Guard approved security training course provider, the process is very simple, click on this link https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/NMC/pdfs/courses/courses.pdf for the National Maritime Center (NMC) and it should take you to the NMC’s approved courses list and it will offer you a search function which will confirm whether the course you want is U.S. Coast Guard approved/accepted. While conducting MTSA compliance inspections U.S. Coast Guard security inspectors must review training records of your security personnel, having them attend, complete and graduate with a certificate from a Coast Guard approved Seebald & Associates course will attest that your personnel have met the U.S. Coast Guard’s rigorous standards.

In conversations with U.S. Coast Guard security inspectors, they can tell which companies’ security personnel have attended Seebald & Associates MTSA security training. They can also tell which companies have engaged Seebald & Associates for their annual compliance audits, facility security assessments and facility security plans. If you need maritime security training, annual compliance audits, facility security assessments or facility security plan development please contact us at www.seebald.com. Our courses fill rapidly so check our website often for a course that fits your schedule.