44
Proceedings Spring 2014
www.uscg.mil/proceedings
On the Horizon
It's been said that it would be easy for the Coast Guard to
protect our maritime borders with 100 percent certainty: All
we need to do is shut down all maritime traffc in and out
of our country.
Obviously, that cannot and should not happen. The eco-
nomic impact of such an act would be crippling. Our econ-
omy requires cross-border trade and recreational activities
to generate commerce. Our shared border with Canada sees
an enormous amount of commercial and recreational ves-
sel traffc, from the largest lake freighters to the smallest
personal watercraft. Shiprider is an innovative solution that
provides maritime security and prevents disruptions to eco-
nomically critical waterways.
About the author:
CAPT Bill Travis is the commanding offcer of Coast Guard Element, Joint
Transportation Reserve Unit, U.S. Transportation Command. His prior
assignments included chief of the Maritime Border Security Division at
Coast Guard headquarters and maritime law enforcement boarding offcer.
He participated in multiple tours and deployments with port security units.
Endnotes:
1.
Available at www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/shiprider_agreement.pdf.
2.
Beyond the Border: A Shared Vision for Perimeter Security and Economic Competitive-
ness. February 4, 2011.
3.
Shiprider agreement.
4.
Ava i l able at w w w.u scg.m i l/d1/re spon s e/jr t/doc u ment s/AGA _ sig ned _
29JUN2010(sm).pdf.
5.
19 U.S.C.ยง1401(i) The terms Offcer of the customs; customs offcer mean "any
offcer of the United States Customs Service of the Treasury Department (also
hereinafter referred to as the "Customs Service") or any commissioned, warrant,
or petty offcer of the Coast Guard, or any agent or other person, including foreign
law enforcement offcers, authorized by law or designated by the Secretary of the
Treasury to perform any duties of an offcer of the Customs Service."
6.
R.S.C., 1985, c. C-46, "peace offcer" includes (c.1) a designated offcer as defned in
section 2 of the Integrated Cross-border Law Enforcement Operations Act, when
(i) participating in an integrated cross-border operation, as defned in section 2
of that Act, or
(ii) engaging in an activity incidental to such an operation, including travel for
the purpose of participating in the operation and appearances in court arising
from the operation.
7.
Canada Gazette, Vol 146, No. 19, September 12, 2012. Available at www.gazette.
gc.ca/rp-pr/p2/2012/2012-09-12/html/si-tr68-eng.html.
procedures, information sharing, customs violations and
regulations, and integrated boarding tactics.
To successfully complete the training, candidates must adapt
to the criminal and privacy laws and policies of the host
country in which they will be operating and understand
domestic enforcement authorities and jurisdiction. Students
also learn use-of-force policies, rules of engagement, and
defensive tactics. Moreover, training continues after gradu-
ation. ICMLEO offcers take refresher and familiarization
training to stay profcient in applicable laws and policies.
Once candidates complete initial training they become des-
ignated cross-border maritime law enforcement offcers.
That means a designated Canadian law enforcement offcer
becomes a U.S. customs offcer under U.S. law,
5
and a desig-
nated U.S. law enforcement offcer becomes a peace offcer
under Canadian law.
6
Is It Working?
Five "proof of concept" pilot programs have launched since
2005 including operations securing the 2010 G8 and G20
Summits in Ontario, the 2010 Olympic Games in Vancouver,
and the 2006 NFL Super Bowl in Detroit. They validated
shiprider effectiveness, enhanced bi-national law enforce-
ment cooperation, resulted in criminal arrests, and helped
enforcement officers confiscate illegal drugs, untaxed
tobacco, and bulk cash. They were also critical to the recov-
ery of an abducted child who had been transported across
the U.S./Canadian border.
7
In June 2013, integrated cross-border maritime law enforce-
ment operations offcially launched. U.S. Coast Guard law
enforcement personnel along with Royal Canadian Mounted
Police counterparts, kicked off shiprider operations in the
Detroit, Michigan/Windsor, Ontario region and in the
Blaine, Washington/Vancouver, British Columbia region.
Spring2014_FINAL.indd 44 3/21/14 11:14 AM