USCG Activities Europe
Encyclopedia
United States Coast Guard
Activities Europe (ACTEUR) is a Coast Guard Marine Safety unit located in Rotterdam
, The Netherlands.
. Their mission was initially to handle the influx of U.S. merchant ships and merchant seaman. However, after the war, the workload declined and offices remained only in London
, Bremerhaven
and Rotterdam
. In the 1960’s the name Activities Europe (ACTEUR) was first given to the office in London
and they were tasked as the centralized support for CG LORAN
stations throughout Europe.
In 1975 the other remaining USCG offices were consolidated and a Marine Inspection Office (MIO) was established in Rotterdam
. This was the first MIO established outside the U.S. and its mission was similar to that of today’s unit. However, in June 1982 MIO Rotterdam was closed for budgetary reasons and the overseas inspection responsibilities in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East were transferred to MIO New York. From June 1982 until July 1995, MIO New York conducted overseas inspections using a combination of inspectors from the U.S. and personnel from ACTEUR London.
With the turn-over of the LORAN
stations to the “host” countries in the early 1990s, ACTEUR London was closed. A new command, Activities/Marine Inspection Office Europe, was commissioned on July 11, 1995 in Rotterdam
.
The unit has continued to grow and evolve during the Coast Guard’s transition to the Department of Homeland Security and today our maritime security role continues to expand. Between 2004 and 2007, additional people were assigned to ACTEUR as International Port Security Liaison Officers (IPSLO). IPLSOs work with 83 different countries to align maritime security efforts and share best practices.
and on the North Sea
and Arabian Sea
, and U.S. deep draft cargo ships (both commercial and U.S. government owned), which navigate throughout the Area of Responsibility (AOR).
ACTEUR’s marine inspectors focus on the structural integrity, vital systems, propulsion, seaworthiness, hazardous conditions, lifesaving, firefighting, safety of navigation, etc., on U.S flag commercial vessels. Our marine inspectors travel to over 30 countries throughout the AOR to ensure compliance with U.S. laws and regulations and international conventions.
In addition to the fleet in operation, ACTEUR also oversees any major U.S. flag new-building projects under construction within the AOR, prototype & production testing of primary lifesaving appliances for formal USCG Approval, and of third party organizations that have been authorized to conduct relevant work on behalf of the USCG.
U.S. Vessel Investigations - ACTEUR also investigates marine casualties (including incidents accidental or purposeful) involving U.S. vessels operating within the AOR. Primarily to identify safeguards and prevent re-occurrence, our investigators attempt to determine the causes, evaluate the actions of USCG licensed & documented mariners and, as appropriate, initiate legal actions.
jurisdiction, we play a key role in the USCG Port State control program for European built cruise ships, foreign flag tank vessels and compressed gas carriers. The overwhelming majority of cruise ships that trade in the U.S. are being built in European shipyards and ACTEUR marine inspectors, working in conjunction with U.S. counterparts, conduct expanded Port State Control exams during the construction of these vessels to ensure compliance with international safety regulations, especially those concerning structural fire protection and lifesaving arrangements.
This is accomplished by continual engagement with fellow maritime nations. At times engagements are less formal and conducted by the IPSLO alone and other times more formal and include a delegation of IPS Program managers from Washington DC or Portsmouth, Virginia
. In all cases, engagements provide the opportunity to conduct on-site information exchanges, share best practices, and observe each country’s efforts on maritime port security. IPSLOs also facilitate reciprocal visits to the U.S. allowing other nations to view first hand security practices in U.S. ports
.
(IMO) activities, the Paris and Black Sea Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control groups, the European Commission’s MARSEC, and the International Organisation for Standardisation.
, Norway
, and Cape Town
, South Africa
.
• In 2007, ACTEUR personnel traveled to over 70 different countries throughout the AOR carrying out our various mission responsibilities.
• ACTEUR has the largest geographic Area of Responsibility of any field unit in the USCG, spanning the Arctic Circle
to Cape Horn
.
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...
Activities Europe (ACTEUR) is a Coast Guard Marine Safety unit located in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, The Netherlands.
Unit History
At the request of the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) established offices throughout Europe near the end of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. Their mission was initially to handle the influx of U.S. merchant ships and merchant seaman. However, after the war, the workload declined and offices remained only in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven
Bremerhaven is a city at the seaport of the free city-state of Bremen, a state of the Federal Republic of Germany. It forms an enclave in the state of Lower Saxony and is located at the mouth of the River Weser on its eastern bank, opposite the town of Nordenham...
and Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. In the 1960’s the name Activities Europe (ACTEUR) was first given to the office in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and they were tasked as the centralized support for CG LORAN
LORAN
LORAN is a terrestrial radio navigation system using low frequency radio transmitters in multiple deployment to determine the location and speed of the receiver....
stations throughout Europe.
In 1975 the other remaining USCG offices were consolidated and a Marine Inspection Office (MIO) was established in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
. This was the first MIO established outside the U.S. and its mission was similar to that of today’s unit. However, in June 1982 MIO Rotterdam was closed for budgetary reasons and the overseas inspection responsibilities in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East were transferred to MIO New York. From June 1982 until July 1995, MIO New York conducted overseas inspections using a combination of inspectors from the U.S. and personnel from ACTEUR London.
With the turn-over of the LORAN
LORAN
LORAN is a terrestrial radio navigation system using low frequency radio transmitters in multiple deployment to determine the location and speed of the receiver....
stations to the “host” countries in the early 1990s, ACTEUR London was closed. A new command, Activities/Marine Inspection Office Europe, was commissioned on July 11, 1995 in Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
.
The unit has continued to grow and evolve during the Coast Guard’s transition to the Department of Homeland Security and today our maritime security role continues to expand. Between 2004 and 2007, additional people were assigned to ACTEUR as International Port Security Liaison Officers (IPSLO). IPLSOs work with 83 different countries to align maritime security efforts and share best practices.
Missions
- U.S. Flag Administration: In support of USCG Maritime Safety, Security & Environmental Protection missions, ACTEUR inspects and certifies the U.S. commercial vessel fleet operating throughout Europe, the Middle East & Africa. We also perform various oversight activities and investigate incidents involving the U.S. merchant fleet.
- Port State Control Activities: To ensure compliance with U.S. laws & regulations and applicable international conventions, ACTEUR examines foreign flagFlag StateThe flag state of a commercial vessel is the state under whose laws the vessel is registered or licensed.The flag state has the authority and responsibility to enforce regulations over vessels registered under its flag, including those relating to inspection, certification, and issuance of safety...
commercial vessels that have applied for permission to trade in the U.S., including cruise ships (checked during design and construction phases) and tankers (including self-propelled carriers of crude oil, petroleum products, chemicals and liquefied gases).
- International Port Security Program: To verify implementation of the International Ship and Port Facility Security CodeInternational Ship and Port Facility Security CodeThe International Ship and Port Facility Security Code is an amendment to the Safety of Life at Sea Convention on minimum security arrangements for ships, ports and government agencies...
(ISPS), ACTEUR performs bi-lateral information exchanges (including sharing best practices) and conducts visits at the foreign port facilities of America's maritime trading partner nations, thereby aligning security efforts and ensuring that adequate measures are in place.
- International Outreach and Engagement: In support of USCG strategic objectives, ACTEUR works with members of the international maritime community to promote and enhance the safety and security of the international maritime transportation system.
Flag Administration, Safety, Security, and Pollution Prevention For US Flag
U.S. Vessel Inspections – Safety, security, and environmental protection inspections on U.S. flag vessels account for the majority of our flag administration workload. The somewhat transient U.S. fleet that operates within the AOR includes offshore oil industry vessels and Mobile Offshore Drilling Units working in West AfricaWest Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
and on the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
and Arabian Sea
Arabian Sea
The Arabian Sea is a region of the Indian Ocean bounded on the east by India, on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Arabian Peninsula, on the south, approximately, by a line between Cape Guardafui in northeastern Somalia and Kanyakumari in India...
, and U.S. deep draft cargo ships (both commercial and U.S. government owned), which navigate throughout the Area of Responsibility (AOR).
ACTEUR’s marine inspectors focus on the structural integrity, vital systems, propulsion, seaworthiness, hazardous conditions, lifesaving, firefighting, safety of navigation, etc., on U.S flag commercial vessels. Our marine inspectors travel to over 30 countries throughout the AOR to ensure compliance with U.S. laws and regulations and international conventions.
In addition to the fleet in operation, ACTEUR also oversees any major U.S. flag new-building projects under construction within the AOR, prototype & production testing of primary lifesaving appliances for formal USCG Approval, and of third party organizations that have been authorized to conduct relevant work on behalf of the USCG.
U.S. Vessel Investigations - ACTEUR also investigates marine casualties (including incidents accidental or purposeful) involving U.S. vessels operating within the AOR. Primarily to identify safeguards and prevent re-occurrence, our investigators attempt to determine the causes, evaluate the actions of USCG licensed & documented mariners and, as appropriate, initiate legal actions.
Port State Control Activities
Although ACTEUR does not have Captain of the PortCaptain of the Port
The Captain of the Port is an official who has different functions in the United Kingdom and the United States.-United Kingdom:In the Royal Navy, the Captain of the Port is the officer, usually with the rank of Captain, responsible for the day-to-day running of a Naval Dockyard under the authority...
jurisdiction, we play a key role in the USCG Port State control program for European built cruise ships, foreign flag tank vessels and compressed gas carriers. The overwhelming majority of cruise ships that trade in the U.S. are being built in European shipyards and ACTEUR marine inspectors, working in conjunction with U.S. counterparts, conduct expanded Port State Control exams during the construction of these vessels to ensure compliance with international safety regulations, especially those concerning structural fire protection and lifesaving arrangements.
International Port Security Program
In 2004 ACTEUR became home to a team of International Port Security Liaison Officers (IPSLOs) who work with all maritime trading countries in the AOR. The IPSLOs are a vital part of the Coast Guard’s International Port Security (IPS) Program. Their mission is to learn about maritime port security efforts and implementation of the ISPS Code in all countries that conduct maritime trade with the U.S.This is accomplished by continual engagement with fellow maritime nations. At times engagements are less formal and conducted by the IPSLO alone and other times more formal and include a delegation of IPS Program managers from Washington DC or Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
. In all cases, engagements provide the opportunity to conduct on-site information exchanges, share best practices, and observe each country’s efforts on maritime port security. IPSLOs also facilitate reciprocal visits to the U.S. allowing other nations to view first hand security practices in U.S. ports
Port
A port is a location on a coast or shore containing one or more harbors where ships can dock and transfer people or cargo to or from land....
.
International Outreach
ACTEUR carries out a wide variety of outreach and engagement activities. As the USCG’s primary representative in the region we work with U.S. embassies, coast guards, international organizations, and the international maritime community to share information and improve understanding of USCG roles, missions, and objectives. We actively participate in various international maritime industry & regulatory forums. Working with our international maritime colleagues, we attempt to improve maritime security and safety and work together to eliminate substandard shipping throughout the world. As a result, we regularly participate in International Maritime OrganizationInternational Maritime Organization
The International Maritime Organization , formerly known as the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organization , was established in Geneva in 1948, and came into force ten years later, meeting for the first time in 1959...
(IMO) activities, the Paris and Black Sea Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control groups, the European Commission’s MARSEC, and the International Organisation for Standardisation.
Statistics
• There are over 6,500 miles between two of ACTEUR’s regular inspection locations; BergenBergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
, and Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
• In 2007, ACTEUR personnel traveled to over 70 different countries throughout the AOR carrying out our various mission responsibilities.
• ACTEUR has the largest geographic Area of Responsibility of any field unit in the USCG, spanning the Arctic Circle
Arctic Circle
The Arctic Circle is one of the five major circles of latitude that mark maps of the Earth. For Epoch 2011, it is the parallel of latitude that runs north of the Equator....
to Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
.