MARSEC
Encyclopedia
MARSEC is the three-tiered United States Coast Guard
Maritime Security system designed to easily communicate to the Coast Guard and the maritime industry pre-planned scalable responses for credible threats. Its objective is to provide an assessment of possible terrorist activity within the maritime sectors of transportation
, including threats to nautical facilities and vessels falling within the jurisdiction of the United States
that could be targets of attack.
The Coast Guard originally created MARSEC to be compatible with, and respond in unison to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Homeland Security Advisory System
(HSAS). With the introduction of the National Terrorism Advisory System
(NTAS) to replace HSAS, the Commandant of the Coast Guard
will adjust the MARSEC Level, if appropriate, based on any NTAS Alert issued by DHS.
The current levels are:
United States Coast Guard
The United States Coast Guard is a branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven U.S. uniformed services. The Coast Guard is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission and a federal regulatory agency...
Maritime Security system designed to easily communicate to the Coast Guard and the maritime industry pre-planned scalable responses for credible threats. Its objective is to provide an assessment of possible terrorist activity within the maritime sectors of transportation
Ship transport
Ship transport is watercraft carrying people or goods . Sea transport has been the largest carrier of freight throughout recorded history. Although the importance of sea travel for passengers has decreased due to aviation, it is effective for short trips and pleasure cruises...
, including threats to nautical facilities and vessels falling within the jurisdiction of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that could be targets of attack.
The Coast Guard originally created MARSEC to be compatible with, and respond in unison to the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Homeland Security Advisory System
Homeland Security Advisory System
In the United States, the Homeland Security Advisory System was a color-coded terrorism threat advisory scale. The different levels trigger specific actions by federal agencies and state and local governments, and they affect the level of security at some airports and other public facilities. It...
(HSAS). With the introduction of the National Terrorism Advisory System
National Terrorism Advisory System
The National Terrorism Advisory System is a two-level terrorism threat advisory scale used by the United States Department of Homeland Security since April 26, 2011. The system was announced on January 27, 2011 by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano during a speech at George Washington...
(NTAS) to replace HSAS, the Commandant of the Coast Guard
Commandant of the Coast Guard
The Commandant of the United States Coast Guard is the highest ranking member of the United States Coast Guard. The Commandant is normally the only four-star Admiral in the Coast Guard and is appointed for a four-year term by the President of the United States upon confirmation by the United...
will adjust the MARSEC Level, if appropriate, based on any NTAS Alert issued by DHS.
Alert levels
Under the HSAS there were three levels to the system:- Level 1 – Corresponding with the HSAS levels Green, Blue, or Yellow.
- Level 2 – Corresponding with the heightened HSAS risk coded Orange.
- Level 3 – Corresponding with the probable and imminent HSAS risk level coded Red.
The current levels are:
- Level 1 - minimum appropriate security measures shall be maintained at all times.
- Level 2 - appropriate additional protective security measures shall be maintained for a period of time as a result of heightened risk of a transportation security incident.
- Level 3 - further specific protective security measures shall be maintained for a limited period of time when a transportation security incident is probable, imminent, or has occurred, although it may not be possible to identify the specific target.