Fifth District
U.S. Coast Guard

Date: Aug. 18, 2008
Contact: Lt.j.g. Scott Hembrook
(252) 723-8806
 

Coast Guard scheduled to host Area Maritime Security Training Exercises Program press brief in Wilmington, N.C., Tuesday 

WILMINGTON, N.C.- Coast Guard Sector North Carolina is scheduled to host a media briefing on the Area Maritime Security Training Exercises Program at the Coast Guard Cutter Diligence mooring on the Cape Fear River, at 9:00 a.m. Tuesday.

The Area Maritime Security Training Exercises Program (AMSTEP) is focused on building links within the Area Maritime Security (AMS) Committee. The committee assists the Coast Guard Captain of the Port in writing, reviewing and updating an AMS Plan in addition to supporting other transportation entities that depend upon the port being secure.

The exercise will involve a majority of the port community, including public governmental agencies and private industry. The partnership is intended to improve connectivity of various surface transportation modes and enhance current Area Maritime Security Plans.

The list of agencies involved in this year's exercise includes; Coast Guard units from Sector North Carolina , the US Army Military Ocean Terminal Sunny Point, US Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) Surface Deployment and Distribution Command (SDDC), the FBI, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), NC Emergency Services, NC Ferry System, NC State Port, Brunswick County (Dozer) Hospital, Brunswick County Police Department, Hess Oil, New Hanover County Emergency Services, Brunswick County Emergency Services, Public Health Regional Surveillance Team, US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), various representatives from companies located on the Cape Fear River, and other police, sheriff, fire and EMS from throughout the region.

Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team Honolulu, Hawaii, will be conducting exercises near the Coast Guard Cutter Diligence's mooring Tuesday morning.

For more information on the exercise contact: Lt.j.g. Scott M Hembrook, Public Affairs Officer, Sector North Carolina at (252) 723-8806.