► America’s Waterway Watch
HS Today

By Lt. JG Brian Zekus, US Coast Guard and John P. Whelan, US Coast Guard Auxiliary

With threats of a terrorist attack on American shores, the need for a variety of security measures in multiple arenas has become more urgent than ever. For its part, the US Coast Guard is requesting the assistance of America’s 70 million boaters, and others who live, work or play around our waters, by becoming part of our nation’s first line of defense: America’s Waterway Watch (AWW).

AWW is an outreach program akin to neighborhood watch programs in many local communities, but is focused strictly on marine-related areas. With over 95,000 miles of shoreline, 300,000 square miles of waterways, 6,000 bridges, 360 ports of call and thousands of marinas, the US Coast Guard simply cannot be everywhere at once. It needs the eyes and ears of all who frequent our waterways to be on the lookout for suspicious activities that might threaten our homeland security. This creates a force multiplier for the homeland security effort to maintain heightened marine domain awareness.

Neighborhood watch programs have proven to be effective in deterring criminal activity, creating a sense of security, reducing fears of crime and even building stronger communities. “The primary objective of America’s Waterway Watch is to prevent acts of terrorism and other illegal activity by ensuring that members of the commercial and recreational boating industries, as well as the boating public, know what to look for and how to report suspicious activities that may be indicators of potential terrorism,” according to Coast Guard Chief Petty Officer Penny Collins, AWW’s former national program manager.

Record of success

Alert mariners have already made a contribution. In Miami in 2003, Sayed Abdul Malike, a suspected terrorist with known connections to Al Qaeda, began asking unusual questions of Capt. John Martin of the US Merchant Marine as they passed under the I-95 bridge. While taking photos with a camera phone, Malike asked questions such as: Can you climb up on the bridge? Can you stop under the bridge? Where can you rent a jet ski? How close can you get to the cruise ships?

Martin asked his first mate to take the helm and called AWW. The call led to the investigation of Malike and an apprehension in Brooklyn, NY, in 2003. Who knows what might have happened in Miami without the AWW program? Sayed Abdul Malike’s name might be more widely known throughout our country.

Along with enlisting the public for support of the program, the US Coast Guard Auxiliary, a volunteer boating safety organization made up of 30,000 members nationwide, is helping the Coast Guard promote the security message to the boating public.

Reporting

When reporting information, boaters can take specific steps to give the Coast Guard the best possible information to aid in an investigation and, in the end, mitigate the potential threat.

The first step is to take detailed notes of who, where, what and when something out of the ordinary occurs. If the activity poses an immediate threat, boaters should call local authorities by dialing 911 or the US Coast Guard on Channel 16 of their VHF-FM marine radios. If a boater sees something that looks suspicious, but doesn’t pose an immediate danger, he should call the AWW toll-free number, 1-877-24-WATCH (1-877-249-2824), a central phone number that fields information to the US Coast Guard National Response Center, which is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Watching for suspicious activity on the water, while similar to neighborhood watch, involves looking for some different activities. Some examples the public should be on the lookout for include: People appearing to be engaged in surveillance; asking odd questions; sketching, videotaping or taking photos of waterfront installations; diving or boating near sensitive infrastructures, like dams, bridges or power plants; attempting to force entry to a vessel or waterfront facility; missing fencing or lighting near sensitive waterfront locations; and vessels anchored around bridges or dams.

The public is urged never to confront anyone suspicious or take any action other than reporting it to authorities. Furthermore, boaters are advised to call 911 immediately in the event of a situation perceived to be an immediate danger.

AWW is not about spying on neighbors, nor is it intended to instill fear or create pandemonium. It is simply about being vigilant and responsible.

How can Americans help homeland security? The answer is clear: By participating in America’s Waterway Watch! HST

 Lt. JG Brian Zekus is the America’s Waterway Watch Program manager for the US Coast Guard. John P. Whelan is a member of the US Coast Guard Auxiliary. More information about America’s Waterway Watch can be obtained at www.americaswaterwaywatch.com.