MARAD ADVISORY 01-07 (5 NOV 2001)

TO: OPERATORS OF U.S. FLAG AND EFFECTIVE U.S. CONTROLLED VESSELS AND OTHER MARITIME INTERESTS

SUBJ: MARITIME INDUSTRY REPORTING OF SUSPECTED/ACTUAL TERRORIST INCIDENTS

THE FOLLOWING U.S. COAST GUARD MESSAGE WAS ORIGINALLY SENT TO ALL COAST GUARD UNITS ON 31 OCT. IT IS BEING RELEASED AS A MARAD ADVISORY IN ORDER TO ENSURE THE WIDEST DISTRIBUTION POSSIBLE.

  1. "PURPOSE: THIS MESSAGE IS TO PROVIDE THE MARITIME INDUSTRY WITH ONE NATIONAL TELEPHONE NUMBER (800-424-8802) TO REPORT SUSPECTED AND ACTUAL TERRORIST INCIDENTS.
  2. BACKGROUND: THE NATIONAL RESPONSE CENTER (NRC) IS THE CENTRAL POINT OF CONTACT FOR ALL OIL, CHEMICAL, RADIOLOGICAL, BIOLOGICAL AND ETIOLOGICAL RELEASES ANYWHERE IN THE UNITED STATES. THESE HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES MAY POTENTIALLY BE USED IN A TERRORIST INCIDENT, AND GIVEN THE EXISTING CAPABILITIES, THE NRC CAN SERVE AS AN EFFECTIVE CLEARINGHOUSE FOR NOTIFICATION OF TERRORISM INCIDENTS.
  3. DISCUSSION: (A) WHILE IT MAY BE DIFFICULT TO PREDICT AND PREVENT A TERRORIST ATTACK, CERTAIN STEPS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED TO MINIMIZE THE CHANCE THAT THE ATTACK WILL DISRUPT VESSEL/PORT OPERATIONS. CG HEADQUARTERS IS WORKING WITH INDUSTRY, FIELD UNITS, AND OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES TO DEVELOP AND COMMUNICATE BEST PRACTICES FOR PREVENTION. THE FBI AND USPS HAVE PUBLISHED GUIDANCE ON THEIR WEBSITES THAT PROVIDE "TELL-TALE" SIGNS FOR IDENTIFYING SUSPICIOUS PACKAGES. FURTHER, SOME CRUISE SHIP COMPANIES HAVE SET UP SATELLITE MAIL PROCESSING TRAILERS TO MINIMIZE THE IMPACT OF AN ANTHRAX THREAT ON BOTH THE VESSEL AND TERMINAL OPERATIONS. (B) UPON NOTIFICATION OF A POTENTIAL TERRORIST INCIDENT THE NRC WILL CONNECT THE CALLER TO THE FBI’S STRATEGIC INTELLIGENCE AND OPERATIONS CENTER (SIOC), WHO WILL COORDINATE WITH OTHER AGENCIES TO PERFORM AN IMMEDIATE ASSESSMENT OF THE THREAT CREDIBILITY. IN SOME INSTANCES, THE FBI MAY BE ABLE TO VERIFY THAT THE REPORT IS A FALSE ALARM OR HOAX AND REQUIRES NO RESPONSE. OTHER CASES MAY REQUIRE AN ONSCENE ASSESSMENT BY THE FBI AND OTHER FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL OFFICIALS. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE THREAT ASSESSMENT, THE NRC WILL ALSO NOTIFY OTHER NRT RESPONSE AGENCIES UNDER EXISTING PROTOCOLS.
  4. ACTION: (A) IN ADDITION TO OIL AND HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCE RELEASES, THE NRC SHOULD BE NOTIFIED OF ANY SUSPECTED TERRORIST INCIDENT, PARTICULARLY THOSE AFFECTING TRANSPORTATIONS SYSTEMS. UNITS SHOULD ENSURE ALL REPORTS OF SUSPECTED OR ACTUAL INCIDENTS ARE REPORTED TO THE NRC AT 800-424-8802 OR 202-267-2675. (B) RECOMMEND THAT THE CONTENTS OF THIS ALCOAST BE WIDELY DISTRIBUTED TO THE MARITIME INDUSTRY SO THEY KNOW HOW TO REPORT SUSPECTED/ACTUAL TERRORIST INCIDENTS.
  5. INTERNET RELEASE AUTHORIZED.
  6. RELEASED BY RADM PLUTA, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR MARINE SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION, AND RADM CROSS, ASSISTANT COMMANDANT FOR OPERATIONS."
  7. ALL U.S.-FLAG OPERATORS ARE REQUESTED TO FORWARD THIS ADVISORY TO THEIR SHIPS BY THE MOST EXPEDIENT MEANS. THIS ADVISORY WILL SUBSEQUENTLY BE PUBLISHED IN THE "WEEKLY NOTICE TO MARINERS" AND MARAD WORLDWIDE WEB SITE.
  8. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION REGARDING THIS ADVISORY CONTACT THE MARITIME ADMINISTRATION, OFFICE OF SHIP OPERATIONS, CODE MAR-613, ROOM 2123, 400 7TH STREET SW, WASHINGTON, DC 20590; TELEPHONE 202-366-5735; OR FAX 202-366-3954.