Terrorist and Bogus Marine Credentials
The U.S. Coast Guard and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) completed a 14-month investigation — dubbed Operation Drydock — into national security threats and document fraud associated with U.S. merchant mariner credentials. It revealed nine individuals that held credentials have suspected associations with terrorist groups.
"Through extensive and detailed investigative efforts, we have reduced vulnerabilities to terrorism by preventing the fraudulent use of credentials by those who seek to harm our nation and its citizens," said Admiral Thomas H.
C o l l i n s , Commandant of the Coast Guard. "This is a great example of interagency cooperation in the war on terror.
Using our combined resources and expertise, we will continue to make America safer and more secure." The Coast Guard, working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation and other interagency partners, examined the records of over 200,000 individuals who hold a U.S. merchant mariner credential to identify potential terrorist links and detect document fraud. In addition to the nine individuals possibly associated with terrorism, the Coast Guard identified thousands of cases of possible fraud or other problems, including mariners with active arrest warrants. In response to this information: • The Coast Guard is suspending and revoking unauthorized credentials.
• U.S. Attorneys are pursuing criminal charges where warranted.
• About a dozen people have been arrested because of active arrest warrants that were uncovered as a result of Operation Drydock.
• The Coast Guard, FBI and the U.S.
Navy worked together to screen mariners serving on Military Sealift Command ships carrying troops and material during the war in Iraq. More than a dozen mariners were removed from service aboard those vessels.
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Other stories from April 2004 issue
Content
- Rocknes Successfully Parbuckled page: 8
- Galtex Pilots Order New Jet Boat page: 9
- Meyer Werft Delivers New RoRo-Cruise Ferry page: 10
- Bollinger Launches Innovative OSV Hull page: 12
- Port Pile Up? page: 14
- U.S. Manifest Presentation Requirements page: 17
- Terrorist and Bogus Marine Credentials page: 23
- Rig Demand in the Doldrums page: 24
- The Future is Now page: 30
- SNAME: Investing in the Future page: 32
- Offshore Prospects Keep Bollinger Busy page: 34
- Bollinger Delivers ATB for Bouchard page: 34
- ShipConstructor 2 0 0 4 used for M/V Cheramie BoTruc 38 page: 36
- Stability Software for Semi Submersible Rigs page: 38
- VT Halter: King has Company Back on Track page: 40
- Teekay Enters LNG With Tapias Acquisition page: 42
- Drewry Forecasts Strong LNG Growth page: 42
- ChevronTexaco to Operate New LNG Carrier page: 43
- ABS Addresses Tech Concerns page: 44
- Dual-fuel Diesel Engines for LNG Carriers page: 46
- Graig Extends Cooperation With Vinashin page: 49
- Teekay Seeks to Grow Suezmax Fleet page: 50
- SMT: Safe and Cost Effective Mooring page: 50
- Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA: Profits to Roll Through 2004 page: 52
- Farstad: North Sea Utilization Rates Down page: 54
- ConCat Survey Cat Trolls for Buyers page: 55
- Berge Boston Gets New Ship Security System page: 56
- Kongsberg Maritime: United, Diverse page: 57
- The Rules are About to Change page: 60
- Cool Technology page: 62
- Advanced Joint Health Service Support and Sea Basing Concept page: 64
