To: Distribution Date: April 25, 2006
From: Waterways Management Division Revision No: 0
Re: Sector NY Maritime Domain Awareness and America’s Waterway Watch

Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) is “The effective understanding of anything in the marine environment that could adversely affect America’s security, safety, economy, or environment.” MDA is the Coast Guard’s overarching maritime security program, and is guided by the Maritime Domain Awareness Directorate.
As part of our ongoing outreach to the maritime community we are reissuing our notice of current Security Zones along with examples of “Suspicious Activities” that should be reported.

All vessels transiting the Port of New York/New Jersey shall comply with the instructions of the Captain of the Port Designated on-scene Patrol Commander. Upon being hailed by siren, radio, flashing light or other means, the operator of the vessel shall proceed as directed.

Any vessel or person in the water is not authorized in the following Security Zones:

• Within 150 yards of Liberty and Ellis Islands;
• United Nations, in the East River along the Manhattan shoreline from 125 yards offshore at the Queensboro Bridge to 175 yards offshore at East 35th Street;
• Within 25 yards of all bridge piers or abutments, Overhead power cable towers and Tunnel Ventilators in the waters south of the Troy, NY Locks;
• Within 100 yards of all anchored or moored Coast Guard vessels;
• Within a 100-yard radius of any Passenger Ship, or vessel or barge carrying Petroleum/Chemical Products in bulk; and
• Around Piers 84-96, Manhattan, bound by the following points: the northeast corner of Pier 96 where it intersects the seawall, thence to approximate position 40°46’23.1"N, 073°59’59.0"W, thence to approximate position 40°45’55.3"N, 074°00’20.2"W (NAD 1983), thence to the southeast corner of Pier 84 where it intersects the seawall, thence along the shoreline to the point of origin;
• The Indian Point Nuclear Power Station on the Hudson River. Within 300 yards of approximate position 41°16’12.4″N, 073°57’16.2″W. All vessels transiting the Hudson River in the vicinity of Indian Point are subject to random Coast Guard boardings.
• All waters of Bowery and Flushing Bays within approximately 100 yards of La Guardia Airport;
• All waters of Bergen Basin north of 40°39’26.4" N;
• All waters of Thurston Basin north of 40°38’21.2" N;
• All waters of Jamaica Bay within approximately 100 yards of John F. Kennedy Airport; and
• All waters of Eastchester Bay within approximately 100 yards of Rodman Neck, south of the City Island Bridge.

Recreational vessels are not authorized in the following Security Zones:

• All waters between the Military Ocean and Global Marine Terminals, west of the New Jersey Pierhead channel;
• Within a 25-yard radius of every waterfront facility, as defined in 33 CFR 6.01-4;
• All waters of Newark Bay, around Port Newark and Port Elizabeth, bound by the following points: from the New Jersey Turnpike Extension Bridge (approximate position 40-41-46.5N, 074-07-20.4W), following the Western edge of the Newark Bay Channel, South through can buoy #19A, lighted buoy #17, can buoy #15A, lighted buoy #7 and then west to approximate position 40-39-21.5N, 074-09-54.3W.

NAVAL VESSEL PROTECTION ZONES: The U.S. Coast Guard has established permanent Protection Zones for a distance of 500 yards around all U.S. naval vessels in navigable waters of the United States. Vessels are to proceed at a no-wake speed when within a Protection Zone. Non-military vessels are not allowed to enter within 100 yards of a U.S. naval vessel, whether underway or moored, unless authorized by an official patrol. The patrol may be either USCG or USN. A U.S. naval vessel is any vessel owned, operated, chartered, or leased by the U.S. Navy and any vessel under the operational control of the U.S. Navy or a Unified Commander.
Entry into, or movement within these zones, is prohibited without the authorization of the Coast Guard Captain of the Port or his designated on-scene representative. Persons violating this regulation are subject to a penalty of up to $50,000 and/or imprisonment for not more than 5 years.

WHAT "SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY" SHOULD I LOOK FOR?

► People appearing to be engaged in surveillance of any kind (note taking, shooting video/photos, making sketches, or asking questions).
► Unattended vessels or vehicles in unusual locations.
► Lights flashing between boats.
► Unusual diving activity.
► Unusual number of people onboard.
► Unusual night operations.
► Recovering or tossing items into/onto the waterway or shoreline.
► Operating in or passing through an area that does not typically have such activity.
► Fishing/hunting in locations not typically used for those activities.
► Missing fencing or lighting near sensitive locations.
► Anchoring in an area not typically used for anchorage.
► Transfer of people or things between ships or between ship and shore outside of port.
► Anyone operating in an aggressive manner.
► Individuals establishing businesses or roadside food stands near sensitive locations.
► Small planes flying over critical locations.
► People attempting to buy or rent fishing or recreational vessels with cash for short-term, undefined use.

WHAT SHOULD I DO?

• First call the National Response Center at 800-424-8802 or 877-24WATCH. For immediate danger to life or property call 911, or call the Coast Guard on Marine VHF-FM Channel 16.
• NEVER approach someone you fear may be about to commit an illegal act or crime.
• Make some notes, such as the person's appearance, clothing, car license plate, and the type of boat, vehicle or aircraft involved.
• Take a picture if you can, but keep your distance if the situation seems hostile.

Provide details:

Be specific in details whenever you report something amiss to authorities. Generalized descriptions and concerns (e.g., "That guy looks shifty to me...") don't provide sufficient information and may not carry the appropriate sense of urgency.

Details carry weight:

"I'm at the Safe Haven Marina and just saw [something dangerous] loaded from a silver SUV into a white Boston Whaler with the registration number of CF1234YZ. I can't read the SUV's plate number, but I think it's an out of state plate. The boat operator seems to be intimidated by his passengers; and the passengers seem to be trying to keep out of sight. I think something bad is about to happen."
Pay attention to height, weight, gender, clothing, or other identifiable traits of the people engaged in suspicious activity -- you may be asked for this type of information.

How to Make a Proper Description of a Person, Boat or Vehicle

• Never use race or religion as an indicator of suspicious activity, always rely on the idea that what you are observing is like a puzzle and if your instincts suspect suspicious activity, and you have observed a person/groups actions that you can report to back up your instincts and feelings, then you can report your observations using reliable methods:

• All reports should contain the "5 Ws and an H" which means you should be able to articulate a majority of the Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How of what's going on. This will be the line of questioning you can expect from law enforcement when submitting a report.

• If you do not have a majority of these questions covered, than articulate exactly what makes you feel suspicious of a person, group, or situation when reporting.

• Use C.Y.M.B.A.L.S. CYMBALS is an acronym that may help you remember descriptive information about people, boats and vehicles.

For People:

• Color (hair, eyes, clothing, skin)
• Year of birth, approximate age
• Make (Race, Ethnicity)
• Body (Body type, height, weight, build, etc)
• Attire (Clothing description, dress, etc)
• Looks (Hair, Scars, Tattoos, Facial hair, etc.)
• Sex (Male, Female)

For Boats or Vehicles:

• Color (Paint, markings, etc.)
• Year (of manufacture)
• Make (make and model of boat)
• Body (Length, Runabout, Cruiser, Etc.)
• Accessories: (Name, antennas, flags, pennants, inboard or outboard, etc.)
• License/Registration Number State of registration Color (Paint, markings, etc.) Year (of manufacture) Make (make and model of vehicle) Body (Sedan, Truck, SUV, Van, 4-door, 2-door, Etc) All Others (Dents, Bumper Stickers, Rims, Tinted Glass, etc.)
• State-License Plate Number, or State of registration

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I DO?

► Secure and lock your boat when not on board. Take the keys. Disable the engine on stored or trailered boats, and make sure the boat is not easily moved.
► If you manage a waterside facility where employees such as dockmasters or attendants wear uniforms or safety apparel with identifying logos, badges and/or nametags, make sure the uniforms are stored in a relatively secure area -- safe from theft by potential terrorists who may want to blend in by assuming a false identity.
► Display an America's Waterway Watch decal/sticker prominently on a window of your boat or at your place of business.
► Marinas and other waterfront businesses should display an AWW (America's WaterWay Watch) poster, and have informational brochures and decals readily available for customers who want to participate in the program. Publicizing that people are watching for suspicious activity is a terrorism deterrent in and of itself.
► If you feel you could use further information about AWW, or training on how to identify suspicious activities or conditions, contact a Coast Guard office in your vicinity or a Flotilla of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. Formal training in a classroom setting can be arranged, and you may, for example, want to set up a group training session for all of your employees.
► Do not approach or challenge anyone acting in a suspicious manner. Being vigilant does not mean being a vigilante.

Instead, you should report suspicious activity or conditions by calling the National Response Center at 800-424-8802 or 877-24WATCH. For immediate danger to life or property call 911, or call the Coast Guard on Marine VHF-FM Channel 16. Any follow-up action is best handled by trained law enforcement professionals.

B. S. WILLIS
Commander, U.S. Coast Guard
Chief, Waterways Management Division
By direction