USCG Prepares Overseas Maritime Training Team

Reflecting a growing international interest in commercial maritime safety and management, the USCG is planning to establish its first team of marine pollution prevention and response, port safety and port security experts for training foreign maritime agencies. The Marine Safety Training and Assistance Teams would be staffed by 11 officers and senior enlisted personnel.

According to Cmdr. Marc Jorgensen, USCG international affairs policy and operations manager: "With the end of the Soviet Union we now see a general tendency for countries to worry less about defending their territory and more about marine pollution, ports and harbors and fisheries." The Coast Guard's international affairs office would be responsible for the teams, with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) also expected to play a role.

Because the USCG is prevented from allocating funds to assistance activities overseas, requests for the team's services by foreign governments would be handled through the Defense or State Department. These agencies would then reimburse the USCG for the training team's costs.

Requests for training in maritime pollution and port safety/security has already been received from 20 countries, said Lieut. Cmdr. Phil Thibault, USCG international training manager.

Other stories from April 1992 issue

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First published in 1881 Maritime Reporter is the world's largest audited circulation publication serving the global maritime industry.