Coast Guard
Authorities
Briefing
CDR Scott Rogers,
USCG
09 March 2010
Coast Guard Roles and Missions
1.Maritime Safety
2.Maritime Security
3.Maritime Stewardship
Coast Guard Mission Areas
Living
Marine
Resources
Enforcement
Search and
Rescue
Marine
Marine
Safety Environmental
Protection
Maritime
Safety
Aids to
Navigation
Other Law
Enforcement
Ice
Operations
Protection Maritime
of Natural Mobility
Resources
Migrant
Interdiction
Ports,
Waterways
& Coastal
Security
Maritime
Security
Defense
Readiness
Drug
Interdiction
National
Defense
U.S. Coast Guard capabilities can be applied to
promote the full range of maritime priorities within
the National Military Strategy
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Coast Guard Snapshot
40,903 Active Duty
7,709 Reservists
7,695 Civilians
28,500 Auxiliarists
1,660 Small Boats
142 Helicopters
Responsible for:
Coastline: 12,000+ Mi
Inland waters: 25,000 Mi
EEZ: 7,053,000+ Mi2
251 Cutters
54 Airplanes
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Coast Guard Organization
Coast Guard Authorities
An armed service:
Title 10 (Armed Services)
Title 50 (War & National
Def)
“The Coast Guard may make
inquiries, examinations,
inspections, searches,
seizures, and arrests upon
the high seas and waters
over which the U.S. has
jurisdiction.” 14 U.S.C. 89
A unique agency:
Title 6 (Homeland Security)
Title 14 (Coast Guard)
Bureaucratically agile:
Title 19 (Customs)
Title 33 (Navigable Waters,
Environment)
Title 46 (Shipping)
Title 49 (Transportation)
Missions Law Analytical Framework
“Salt away the facts, the law will keep!”
Desired Endgame/Outcomes
Domestic Law
Statutes
Int’l Law
Regulations
Conventional
Executive Instruments
Customary
Judge-made law
Doctrine/Policy
Operational
Investigation/Intel
ACCP
Authorities Capabilities, Competencies,
Partnership
Command & Control (App. D, MLEM)
Prosecution
Key Organic Authorities They Put The “A” in ACCP
14 U.S.C 1 – Congress Says Who We
Are (see also 10 U.S.C. 101)
14 U.S.C. 2 – Congress Defines The
Missions
14 U.S.C. 89 – Congress Grants Us
Authority To Accomplish The LE
Mission
14 U.S.C. 88 – SAR Authority
14 U.S.C. 141 – Congress Says Who
We Can Play With (and vice versa)
14 U.S.C. 143 (and 19 U.S.C. 1401) –
USCG Has Customs Authority Too
33 C.F.R. Part 6 (COTP Authority –
Security Boardings)
Title 46 – LE Ashore Authority
(Facilities)
For
The Ebb & Flow of CG Authority
Intermediate Authority
•Foreign flag vessels on
the high seas with Flag
State Consent
•Foreign territorial sea
with Coastal State
Consent
Maximum Authority
•On navigable waterways
& territorial sea of the
U.S., and aboard U.S. and
stateless vessels on the
high seas
•Facilities adjacent to U.S.
Waters
•Maritime access &
movement control in U.S.
waters
Least Authority
•Law enforcement ashore
beyond facilities
•Foreign Flag Vessel W/O
Flag State Consent
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Location, Location, Location!
Maritime Zones & Authorities: Where You Stand Depends
On Where You Sit
All Threats.
All Hazards.
Always Ready.
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