Maritime Domain

The FMC is an independent government agency, responsible for the regulation of shipping in the foreign trades of the United States. The Commission is engaged in foreign commerce regulations, and many other facets of the maritime industry. Their website provides access to various Commission proceedings and decisions, as well as speeches and remarks.

The IMO is a specialized agency of the United Nations which is responsible for measures to improve the safety of international shipping and to prevent marine pollution from ships. It also is involved in legal matters, including liability and compensation issues and the facilitation of international maritime traffic. It adopts the budget for the next biennium together with technical resolutions and recommendations prepared by subsidiary bodies during the previous two years. The Council acts as governing body in between Assembly sessions, and prepares the budget and work program for the Assembly. The main technical work is carried out by the Maritime Safety, Marine Environment Protection, Legal, Technical Co-operation and Facilitation Committees and a number of sub-committees.

This Maritime Administration website provides a broad spectrum of maritime information including various programs and initiatives to ensure sufficient sealift capability and intermodal transportation infrastructure to support vital homeland and national security interests.

"Maritime Domain Awareness (MDA) is the effective understanding of anything associated with the global maritime domain that could impact the security, safety, economy, or environment of the United States. MDA.gov is designed to provide a collaborative environment where members of the Maritime Community of Interest can learn and share information that will enhance and improve situational awareness within the maritime domain."

"A recent incident in the Arabian Sea and the Strait of Hormuz has raised questions regarding the legal framework surrounding the rights of transit and innocent passage in the territorial seas of coastal nations. Specifically, the rights of vessels to utilize the regime of transit passage through straits used for international navigation unimpeded appear to have been challenged. Iran, the coastal nation whose territorial waters include the Strait of Hormuz, recently detained the Marshall Islands-flagged M/V Maersk Tigris while transiting the Strait. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) established a legal order for peaceful uses of the seas and oceans. Included in the UNCLOS (Part II, Sections 2 and 3) is a legal framework establishing the limits of the territorial seas of coastal nations, as well as the right of innocent passage through these waters. The territorial seas, water over which the coastal nation enjoys sovereignty, extend 12 nautical miles from the coastline. However, vessels enjoy the right of innocent passage, continuous and expeditious passage that is not prejudicial to the peace, good order, or security of the coastal nation, through these waters."

"Rising tensions stemming from maritime territorial disputes in East Asia have become a pressing challenge for U.S. policy makers, and pose one of the most complicated issues for the Obama Administration's policy of strategic 'rebalancing' towards the Asia-Pacific. Since around 2005-2006, long-disputed waters and land features in the South China Sea and, more recently, the East China Sea have seen increasingly aggressive behavior from nations trying to strengthen claims to disputed areas. Although China is not the only nation that has sought to press its maritime territorial claims, actions taken by People's Republic of China (PRC) actors, including its maritime law enforcement authorities and the People's Liberation Army (PLA), have been a particular concern. Chinese maritime authorities have taken actions include harassing vessels, destroying equipment, and blockading islets and shoals. Observers are concerned that the increasing frequency of such events raises the possibility of miscalculations that could lead to overt conflict at sea. […] The Senate may consider offering its advice and consent on the United States becoming a party to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Congress also may choose to examine the economic and security implications of a greater U.S. military presence in disputed areas, or the merits of providing additional resources to Southeast Asian nations to monitor and police their maritime domains. It also may choose to support efforts to lower tensions, including discussions between China and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on a Code of Conduct for parties in the South China Sea."

This document "is a summary of excessive maritime claims that were challenged by Freedom of Navigation (FON) operations and other FON-related activities conducted by U.S. forces during the period of October 1, 2013 to September 30, 2014, in order to preserve the rights, freedoms, and uses of the sea and airspace guaranteed to all nations in international law."

This testimony compilation is from the February 25, 2015 hearing, "President's Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request for Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Programs," before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. From the opening statement of Chairman Duncan Hunter: "The President sent Congress a budget that would increase spending by nearly $75 billion over the FY2016 spending cap. As a result, most federal agencies are slated to receive generous increases in spending over current levels, including a nearly 20 percent increase for the Maritime Administration and a 7 percent increase for the Federal Maritime Commission. Yet somehow, even with an additional $75 billion, the President still proposes to cut funding for the Coast Guard. This time by 4 percent below the current level. The request would slash the Coast Guard's acquisition budget by 26 percent. The proposed level is at least a billion less than what is required to sustain the acquisition program of record. It will severely undermine efforts to recapitalize the Service's aging and failing legacy assets, increase acquisition costs for taxpayers, and seriously degrade mission effectiveness. […] I encourage the Chairman to continue to find ways to operate the Commission as efficiently as possible. Our nation is facing a very tough budget climate and the President's unrealistic request only makes things harder." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Paul Zukunft, Steven Cantrell, Paul Jaenichen, and Mario Cordero.

This is a testimony compilation from the October 8, 2015 hearing "Protecting Maritime Facilities in the 21st Century: Are Our Nation's Ports at Risk for a Cyber-Attack?" hearing held before the Committee on Homeland Security. From the opening statement of Subcommittee Chairman Candice Miller: "The purpose of today's hearing is to examine the vulnerability of seaports to cyber-attacks and how well we are prepared to prevent and respond to such an attack. Our meeting today marks the first Congressional hearing convened to examine cyber security at our nation's ports, which is fitting since October is also National Cybersecurity Awareness Month The United States Coast Guard is the government agency responsible for the physical security of our nation's port infrastructure. Working through the Area Maritime Security Committees, the Coast Guard partners with port authorities and operators to update access controls, fence-off sensitive areas of the ports, and increase surveillance when appropriate. Since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the United States Congress has appropriated $2.4 billion dollars in port security grant funds to harden port facilities against the potential for a terror attack. As a nation, we have done a fairly good job updating the physical security at ports, but I am concerned that the U.S. government has fallen behind when it comes to the cyber security of the port." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Paul F. Thomas, Gregory C. Wilshusen, Randy D. Parsons, and Jonathan Sawicki.

This is a testimony compilation of the July 15, 2015 hearing on "Securing the Border: Understanding Threats and Strategies for the Maritime Border," held before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. From the opening statement of Chairman Ron Johnson: "The United States coastline, which includes the Atlantic, Caribbean, Pacific and Great Lakes coasts, measures over 95,000 miles long--one of the longest coastlines in the world. Across these coastlines migrants from Cuba, the Dominican Republic, and Haiti seek to illegally enter the U.S., often forced into overcrowded boats with unsafe and unsanitary conditions. Transnational criminal organizations also transport drugs--marijuana on the west coast and cocaine on the east coast--into the U.S. via the maritime border. Terrorism is also a continuing threat across our maritime borders. In 2012, the Department of Homeland Security released its Northern Border Strategy, which in part focused on the vulnerabilities in the Great Lakes region. The report cautioned that these shared waterways provided a conduit for potential exploitation. In particular, the ability of small vessels to traverse the Great Lakes and blend in with commercial trade and recreational boaters creates a challenging enforcement environment. As a Wisconsinite, I can attest to this observation firsthand. Despite these threats, as compared to the southwest border, the U.S. has very little domain awareness across our maritime border. And of the threats of which we do become aware, the U.S. Coast Guard is only able to respond to approximately 30 percent. This means that, similar to our southwest border, along which we are only interdicting 5 to 10 percent of the drugs smuggled across, a large amount of drugs are coming across our maritime border undetected." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following:

"In accordance with Section 1259 of the Carl Levin and Howard P. "Buck" McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, Public Law 113-291, this report outlines the Department of Defense's strategy with regard to maritime security in the Asia-Pacific region. Recognizing the importance of the Asia-Pacific region and its maritime domain for the security of the United States, the Department is focused on safeguarding freedom of the seas, deterring conflict and coercion, and promoting adherence to international law and standards. As it does around the world, the Department will continue to fly, sail, and operate wherever international law allows, in support of these goals and in order to preserve the peace and security the Asia-Pacific region has enjoyed for the past 70 years. [...] The United States has enduring economic and security interests in the Asia-Pacific region. And because the region - stretching from the Indian Ocean, through the South and East China Seas, and out to the Pacific Ocean - is primarily water, we place a premium on maintaining maritime peace and security. To that end, the Department of Defense has three maritime objectives in the Asia-Pacific region: to safeguard the freedom of the seas; deter conflict and coercion; and promote adherence to international law and standards."

From the Forward: "This maritime strategy describes how we will design, organize, and employ the Sea Services in support of our national, defense, and homeland security strategies. It also sets maritime priorities in an era of constrained resources, while emphasizing warfighting capabilities and forward naval presence to advance national interests today and guide preparations for tomorrow's challenges. Forward naval presence is essential to strengthening alliances and partnerships, providing the secure environment necessary for an open economic system based on the free flow of goods, protecting U.S. natural resources, promoting stability, deterring conflict, and responding to aggression. As global maritime commerce expands, populations increase, competition for energy and natural resources grows, and advanced military technologies proliferate across the oceans and through the littoral, so too will challenges arise for anyone operating in those regions. The American people will continue to rely on the Sea Services to respond to fast-changing and complex world events that threaten the security of the United States and our allies and partners. Our Sailors, Marines, and Coast Guardsmen stand ready to meet these challenges with the same determination and responsiveness they have demonstrated for more than two centuries."

"We are pleased to deliver the 'National Ocean Policy Implementation Plan' (Plan), a document that translates the National Ocean Policy into on-the-ground actions that will benefit Americans. The Plan presents specific actions Federal agencies will take to bolster our ocean economy, improve ocean health, support local communities, strengthen our security, and provide better science and information to improve decision-making. The National Ocean Policy, created by Executive Order 13547 on July 19, 2010, established the National Ocean Council, which consists of 27 Federal agencies, departments, and offices working together to share information and streamline decision-making. The Council developed the Plan over a two-year period with extensive public input from a wide range of stakeholders. The National Ocean Policy and accompanying Plan will help spur economic growth, empower states and communities, and save taxpayer dollars through better coordination that avoids conflicts. They are examples of common-sense good government that will help Americans sustain and enjoy our ocean resources."

"I am pleased to transmit this document, 'Science for an Ocean Nation: An Update of the Ocean Research Priorities Plan', which presents national research priorities in key areas of interaction between society and the ocean. Our Nation's first ocean research priorities plan, 'Charting the Course for Ocean Sciences in the United States', was developed during 2005-06 and published in January 2007. Although it remains useful for many purposes, a number of issues not thoroughly addressed in that report have since risen in importance, including ocean acidification and rapidly changing conditions in the Arctic Ocean. Further, in July 2010 President Obama signed Executive Order 13547 establishing America's first National Ocean Policy, which calls for science-based decision-making as the Nation works to manage our ocean resources. For these and other reasons, the interagency National Science and Technology Council has crafted this update. Structured around six societal themes, this report recommends research priorities designed to advance our understanding of critical ocean processes and phenomena that are relevant to human health, economic well-being, environmental sustainability, adaptation to climate and other environmental change, and national and homeland security. The report also provides updates on research progress in a number of these areas."

"This directive: a. Reissues DoD Directive 2005.02E (Reference (a)) to establish policy and assign responsibilities for MDA [Maritime Domain Awareness], by which DoD: (1) Contributes to the effective understanding of the global maritime domain and its impact on the security, safety, economy, and environment of the United States. (2) Distributes maritime information, including intelligence, in support of DoD missions globally. (3) Integrates MDA with awareness in the land, air, cyber, and space domains to provide commanders, decision makers, and responders with near-real-time integrated domain awareness. b. Designates the Secretary of the Navy as the DoD Executive Agent (EA) for MDA, in accordance with DoD Directive 5101.1 (Reference (a)). c. Designates the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy (USD(P)) as the OSD Principal Staff Assistant to oversee the activities of the DoD EA for MDA in accordance with Reference (a)."

This directive establishes U.S. policy, guidelines, and implementation actions to enhance U.S. national security and homeland security by protecting U.S. maritime interests. It directs the coordination of United States Government maritime security programs and initiatives to achieve a comprehensive and cohesive national effort involving appropriate Federal, State, local, and private sector entities. This directive also establishes a Maritime Security Policy Coordinating Committee to coordinate inter-agency maritime security policy efforts.

"This publication provides doctrine for the command and control of joint maritime operations across the range of military operations. It also describes the maritime domain; addresses considerations for establishing a joint force maritime component commander and attendant command relationships; provides principles and guidance for the planning, execution, and assessment of joint maritime operations; and presents considerations for specific maritime operations. […] This publication has been prepared under the direction of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS). It sets forth joint doctrine to govern the activities and performance of the Armed Forces of the United States in operations and provides the doctrinal basis for United States (US) military involvement in multinational operations. It provides military guidance for the exercise of authority by combatant commanders and other joint force commanders (JFCs) and prescribes joint doctrine for operations, education, and training. It provides military guidance for use by the Armed Forces in preparing their appropriate plans. It is not the intent of this publication to restrict the authority of the JFC from organizing the force and executing the mission in a manner the JFC deems most appropriate to ensure unity of effort in the accomplishment of the overall objective."