Maritime Defense Zones

Memorandum of Agreement; 7 March 1984 The MOA was between the Secretary of Transportation and the Secretary of the Navy. It esstablished Maritime Defense Zone Atlantic and the Maritime Defense Zone Pacific. The Pacific and Atlantic Coast Guard Area Commanders were given collateral duties as Commanders of their specific zones respectively. In the performance of their MDZ duties, they report to the Navy Atlantic and Pacific Flet CINC's even in peacetime. These MDZ's provide Port Security, Harbor Defense and Coastal Defense. Each Martime Defense Zone was futher divided into Maritime Defense Zone Sectors. The sectors were renamed as Maritime Defense Commands and are commanded by a Navy or Coast Guard Flag Officer

Activated by a Declaration of War or by Executive Order, the Coast Guard Area Commanders also serve as the Commander, Maritime Defense Zone. They are responsible for: Coastal Warfare Defense planing Training Exercises When activated, MDZ Commanders conduct port security and US coastal defense operations within the 200 mile zone extending from the US. These commands integrate Coast Guard, Navy Army and other law enforcement agencies (both Active and Reserve Units).

Memorandum of Agreement; 28 June 1994 This MOA between the Department of the Navy and the Department of Transportation designated Coast Guard Area Commanders as Maritime Defense Zone Coimmanders and provided the authority to respond to threats to the coastal security of the United States and to deploy Naval Coastal Warfare forces in support of expeditionary OCONUS (Outside the Contenantal US) forces. When functioning as a Maritime Defense Zone Commander, The Area Coast Guard Commander is the principal assistant to the cognizant Fleet Commander in Chief for coastal defense matters. While serving in this capacity, he continues to function as the Senior Coast Guard Commander for Coast Guard matters.

Maritime Defense Zone Commands

Memorandum of Agreement; 1994 The MOA streamlined the Maritime Defense Zone Commands and are commanded either by a Senior CG Officer with a Senior Navy Officer serving as deputy, or vice versa. The Commander is responsible for planning, exercising and conducting CONUS Naval Coastal Warfare operations (includes Alaska, the Aleutians, Hawaii, Midway and Puerto Rico). At the port level, the Maritime Defense Zone Commander is also responsible for assigining a Harbor Defense Commander ( normally the Captain of the Port [ COTP ] ) who would exercise direct command over a specific area of operation.

Harbor Defense Command

The Harbor Defense Commander mission is to provide harbor defense, port security and control of littoral areas by employing active and reserve composite Navy/Coast Guard expeditionary forces in a low threat, OCONUS rear area In carrying out this mission, the Composite Navy Coastal Warfare Unit, namely the Harbor Defense Command Unit, in its role as Harbor Defense Command, would be assigned supportive, subordinate units typically comprised of a Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit, and/or a Port Security Unit and an Inshore Boat Unit. Additionally, Explosive Ordnance Disposal units, a Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit, and/or Army/Marine security force and/or logistics detachments may be assigned to the Harbor Defense Command. Depending on their situation, the specific Harbor Defense Command missions would include one or more of the following: Coastal and Harbor Surveillance and Interdiction Inshore Undersea Warfare Port Safety and Security Vessel Traffic Control Waterside and Shoreside Physical Security Search and Rescue Inshore Mine Countermeasures Harbor Clearance Aids to Navigation Restoration / Improvement The Harbor Defense Commander works through the local Port Readiness Committee for interagency support. The local Port Readiness Committee's role is to help provide federal, state and local law enforcement agency support and response asset coordination.

Port Security Units

Coast Guard Port Security Units are deployable units organized for sustained operations. They provide waterside potection to key assets (e.g. pier areas, high value vessels, harbor entrances). (Port Security Units have been deployed to the Persian Gulf during Operation Desert Storm, served in Haiti during Operation UpHold Democracy and to the Middle East following the attack on the USS COLE.

Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Unit

Mobile Inshore Undersea Warfare Units

Inshore Boat Unit

Inshore Boat Units provide an afloat, armed, high speed barrier to protect US Navy and Joint Expeditionary Warfare Forces from at-sea threats. These highly capable craft and crews are also able to conduct surveillance target classification and the laying of sonobouys and the Littoral Array Sub-System. Deployment areas include offshore waters, harbor entrances, Harbors, Ports, waterfront facilities and those internal waters and rivers.

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