US Coast Guard New Rules to Fight Terrorism Announced

US Coast Guard Press Release ^ | May 28, 2002 | US Coast Guard Vice Adm. James D. Hull

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"What about private yachts coming into the country without identification?"

They would be be boarded by a Coast Guard boarding team, per existing laws.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"It sounds to me like a person could be rather confused as to what boat was under Naval Control, leased by it etc.
This could lead to mistaken perceptions that the Average Joe Boater was a terrorist, and the resultant actions take completely unnecessary. "

To further assist the public, the Coast Guard established a Maritime Safety Line, 1-800-682-1796, which is now available to provide both commercial and recreational mariners with the latest, up-to-date information on local waterways and ports openings, closures and restrictions along the eastern seaboard, Great Lakes, and Gulf of Mexico. This information is also available online at: http://www.uscg.mil/safeports/

[Semper911]

Have I thanked you for your service to our country lately?

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"I think we have higher priorities for the Coast Guard than to harass American boaters"

Having spent nearly 8 months at the local Coast Guard base AND reviewing the daily logs as part of my Radio Watchstanding course and duties I have yet to see one case of the Coast Guard harrasing an American boater.
I have seen many cases of the Coast Guard saving peoples lives and boats.
Coos Bay is the 7th largest port on the West Coast.
BTW Yesterday I passed my test and oral review board to become a fully quaified Radio Watchstander on the base.
If there are any harrasment cases coming in on my watch, I will be the one answering the radio or phone 1st.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Have I Thanked You also?
Thank You for your service to our country.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"The Navy should be in charge of patrolling around their vessels."

From press release above
All vessels within 500 yards of any large U.S. naval vessel (greater than 100 feet) must operate at the minimum speed necessary to maintain a safe course and proceed as directed by the Navy or Coast Guard patrol
enforcing the zone.

[Carry_Okie]

What does the Department of Commerce have to do with anything?

The Coast Guard was under the DOC until 1967, and was then transferred to the DOT under LBJ. Historically, they have been more often a part of the Treasury Department as their original function was to collect tarrifs. I had not updated my memory. Mea Culpa.

BTW, that was when they added the gold fringe to your shoulder patches. I suppose you know what that means.

The US Coast Guard falls under the Department of Transportation, and is a federal law enforcement agency. In addition to search and rescue, they enforce the United States Code during peacetime. During wartime, they become a part of the US Navy.

That doesn't give them lawmaking powers, does it? In case you hadn't noticed, we don't have a Declaration of War from Congress, nor has the USCG been transferred to the Navy. Meanwhile my concern about mistaken priorities remains:

What about those container ships?

[Carry_Okie]

Having spent nearly 8 months at the local Coast Guard base AND reviewing the daily logs as part of my Radio Watchstanding course and duties I have yet to see one case of the Coast Guard harrasing an American boater.

It's relatively quiet up in Coos Bay. Having spent 9 YEARS living on the water in the Port of Oakland, I have.

I have seen many cases of the Coast Guard saving peoples lives and boats.

So have I. I have also had the privilege of having them attend a burial at sea. But I have also seen them playing eco-cop without any knowledge of what they were doing, I know people who saw them getting their jollies boarding boats with nude babe sunbathers, I nearly got my boat bashed when they were conducting a "safety check" in choppy water just because they wanted to gawk at the antique yacht, and know that they tried to board a Federally documented vessel illegally (all 20 years ago).

If there are any harrasment cases coming in on my watch, I will be the one answering the radio or phone 1st.

Do you really believe that a boater would be dumb enough to complain about the Coasties on the radio? Gimme a break.

[Semper911]

On June 15, a temporary Coast Guard regulation to protect U.S. Navy ships, that was put into effect Sept. 14, as a result of the attacks, will become permanent, creating a standing safety perimeter around all large U.S. Navy ships anchored, moored or operating in U.S. waters.

A law is very different from a regulation. All government agencies have regulations that help them carry out their responsibilities (for better or for worse). Can you think of an agency that doesn't make regulations and also enforce consequences for those who violate them? The US Coast Guard has been given the responsibility of protecting the Navy ships in US navigable waters, and they created some regulations to get the job done. I have no problem with that.

“These Naval Vessel Protection Zones (NVPZ) help protect our Sailors, Soldiers, Airmen and Marines fighting the war on terrorism by effectively creating a no-float zone around U.S. Navy ships,” said Vice Adm. James D. Hull, Atlantic Area Commander. “Nothing the Coast Guard does now in the war on terrorism is more important than protecting our Navy ships and safeguarding our ports.”

The new Naval Vessel Protection Zone, along with dozens of security zones placed around power plants, marine facilities, cruise ships and hazardous cargo vessels across the nation, are designed to reduce vulnerabilities and increase security as part of the Coast Guard’s largest port security operation since WWII.

How can this be a problem for you?

Meanwhile my concern about mistaken priorities remains: What about those container ships?

What would you like the USCG to do? Board every one of them and open every container? Or maybe you are suggesting they write up some new regulations?

[cinFLA]

<>i>They have a reputation of working with boaters in all matters of safety.

They have a reputation of working over boaters.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"Do you really believe that a boater would be dumb enough to complain about the Coasties on the radio? Gimme a break."

If they didn't report it on the radio they would report it on the phone.
The Radio Watchstander ALSO answers the phone calls coming in to the station.

[kezekiel]

About 10 years ago, when the Navy was still in Long Beach, we ran our Bayliner about 50 yards off of a helicopter carrier, and the sailors waved to us. It was impressive seeing them up that close. Guess that's all over with.

[StriperSniper]

The Coast Guard guys/gals have been doing a great job. I fish out of Ny Harbor, the epicenter of security, and they are not too bad. From the bits of leeway that they give there, I'm sure that most of the places that have less than 100 yards of clearance will be dealt with in a sane manner. Remember these guys know what it is like out there. Unless there is a compelling reason to give a boater a hard time, they are not yet getting out of hand yet, I only say yet because they are part of the government.

Just a word of warning, make sure all the safe boating rules are observed, and there should be little if any problem.

For more up to date info check: Incedent News

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

"They have a reputation of working over boaters."

FYI There are active duty Coast Guard FReepers reading these threads.
Please learn to show some respect for those serving in the military.
All regular Coast Guard are subject to all laws under the USCMJ.
BTW: where is your linked source for your allegations?

[DoughtyOne]

Congrats to you.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

The United States Coast Guard, one of the country's five armed services, is also one of the most unique agencies of the federal government. We trace our history back to 1790, when the first Congress authorized the construction of ten vessels to enforce tariff and trade laws, prevent smuggling, and protect the collection of the federal revenue. Known variously as the Revenue Marine and the Revenue Cutter Service, we expanded in size and responsibilities as the nation grew.
These added responsibilities included humanitarian duties such as aiding mariners in distress. Our law enforcement functions also continued to expand. Congress tasked us with enforcing laws against slavery, piracy, and enlarged our responsibilities to prevent smuggling. We were also given the responsibility to protect the marine environment, explore and police Alaska, and chart the growing nation's coastlines, all well before the turn of the twentieth century.
The service received its present name in 1915 under an act of Congress when the Revenue Cutter Service merged with the Life-Saving Service. The nation now had a single maritime service dedicated to saving life at sea and enforcing the nation's maritime laws. We began to maintain the country's aids to maritime navigation, including operating the nation's lighthouses, when the Lighthouse Service was transferred to the Coast Guard in 1939. Later, in 1946, Congress permanently transferred the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation to the Coast Guard, thereby placing merchant marine licensing and merchant vessel safety under our purview.
The Coast Guard is one of the oldest organizations of the federal government and, until the Navy Department was established in 1798, we served as the nation's only armed force afloat. We have continued to protect the nation throughout our long history and have served proudly in every one of the nation's conflicts. Our national defense responsibilities remain one of our most important functions even today.
In times of peace we operate under the Department of Transportation, serving as the nation's front-line agency for promoting our laws at sea, protecting our coastline and ports, and saving life. In times of war, or on direction of the President, we are attached to the Navy Department.

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Thanks!
BTW Any boater who has a question about navigation, restrictions, etc only has to call in on Channel 16
(emergency distress channel) and will get a response from the nearest Coast Guard Station.
Normal procedure is to have them switch to Channell 22 so Channel 16 is not tied up.
Other than a rowboat, all boats will have at least on radio tuned into Channel 16 (and be able to tune to 22 also.)

[Semper911]

They have a reputation of working over boaters.

Perhaps you are refering to the US Coast Guard's practice of asking selected boaters to heave to so that a safety check can be performed.

While stationed at a small boat station in a tourist area, I once pulled over a 15 foot open boat with three adults and 5 children on board. There were 3 floatation devices on board (seat cushion-type.) As the grandfather protested, I sent them back to the marina. I had just gotten a rescue call and couldn't escort them in.

After I towed in a fishing boat with an engine fire, I was returning to the station when I happened upon the family of 8 in the skiff. I promptly took the children on board my boat and towed Grandpa and his pals back to the marina.

I guess I really worked them over.

There are some hot dogs who take the law enforcement part of the job way too seriously. Same is true for any law enforcement agency. But Coast Guardsmen in general are about safety above all. We have gotten there too late too many times.

[Carry_Okie]

A law is very different from a regulation.

Please explain the operant Constitutional distinction without running afoul of the Separation of Powers Principle.

All government agencies have regulations that help them carry out their responsibilities (for better or for worse).

Only because Congress defaulted upon its Constitutional responsibility via a series of delegations of their legislative responsibility and the courts have abetted it in their interest as well. Further, many of those so-called "responsibilities" are also unconstitutional infringements by the Federal government, particularly property rights.

Can you think of an agency that doesn't make regulations and also enforce consequences for those who violate them?

No. That doesn't make the practice Constitutional, instead it is a WILD stretch of the Commerce Clause. I also can't think of an agency that doesn't make rules in its own interest as alienated from those of citizens.

I wrote a book proposing a system of free-market regulation because few of those delegated "responsibilities" were function in accordance with the limited powers granted the national government under the Constitution. Nearly all civic regulation is a democratic taking of the use of private property and is a temptation to corruption. They have enormous unintended consequences. Consider the EPA. Increasingly, EPA regulations reflect the profit interests of campaign contributors, particularly real estate.

BTW, nearly all Federal ownership of land violates Article 1, Section 8. Perhaps you should read the document.

The US Coast Guard has been given the responsibility of protecting the Navy ships in US navigable waters, and they created some regulations to get the job done. I have no problem with that.

No doubt. The police never have a problem drafting, writing, interpreting, administering, and enforcing laws that serve their interests. It is still a violation of the Constitution.

[DoughtyOne]

Thanks again.