81.4 F
Cruz Bay
Thursday, March 28, 2024
HomeNewsLocal newsCoast Guard, Emergency Responders Take Part in Training Exercise

Coast Guard, Emergency Responders Take Part in Training Exercise

The U.S. Coast Guard and responders from federal, state, local agencies and industry stakeholders conducted an Area Maritime Security Exercise Friday in St. Croix, training for how to coordinate their response during seagoing security incidents.

The annual table-top exercise is part of the nationwide Area Maritime Security Training Exercise Program (AMSTEP.)

“These exercises are instrumental for federal and local agencies as well as our industry partners to deliver a well coordinated and unified response during a major maritime transportation security incident in the U.S. Virgin Islands,” said Capt. Robert Warren, commander of U.S. Coast Guard Sector San Juan.

The exercise tested the effectiveness of the Area Maritime Security Plan drafted by federal, state and local agencies and industry representatives as the framework for how to respond to port-wide security incidents in the territory.

“Anything can happen at any time, and the territory’s critical infrastructure must remain at a heightened state of readiness to respond to a security breach or incident,” said Denise Lewis, deputy director of Operations for the V.I. Territorial Emergency Management Agency. “It is extremely important that both the local government and our federal partners consistently exercise and evaluate security plans, and collaborate to ensure that everyone understands the procedures for response operations so that, if there is a real event, we can protect our facilities and the community.”

Exercise participants gathered at VITEMA’s St. Croix facility to interface and evaluate their ability to respond to a maritime transportation security threat in the area, according to a news release from the Coast Guard. Agencies focused primarily on their processes to alert, mobilize and coordinate personnel, facilities and resources, which included establishing a unified command structure to coordinate interagency response operations.

The scenario involved in the table-top exercise challenged participants to identify key resources and organize interagency procedures during a port security incident, and update response plan information that will enhance future readiness coordination.

Participating agencies and industry organizations included Coast Guard Sector San Juan, Coast Guard Marine Safety Detachment St. Croix, Boat Forces Detachment St. Croix, Federal Aviation Administration, the V.I. Port Authority, VITEMA, Virgin Islands Fusion Center, V.I. Police Department and Fire Services, the Water and Power Authority, National Guard, Limetree Bay Terminal Storage Facility, Island Project and Operating Services and Borinken Towing and Salvage. 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
Keeping our community informed is our top priority.
If you have a news tip to share, please call or text us at 340-228-8784.

Support local + independent journalism in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Unlike many news organizations, we haven't put up a paywall – we want to keep our journalism as accessible as we can. Our independent journalism costs time, money and hard work to keep you informed, but we do it because we believe that it matters. We know that informed communities are empowered ones. If you appreciate our reporting and want to help make our future more secure, please consider donating.