Area Maritime Security Committee

Port Of Hueneme Area Maritime Security Committee

The Port’s Area Maritime Security Committee acts as the cornerstones in bolstering the lines of defense of our Nation’s ports. The importance cannot be over emphasized. Collaborative planning, coordination, open lines of communication, working relationships and unity of effort with other ports are essential to providing layered security and effective measures across all segments of the Maritime Transportation System (MTS)

AMSC History

The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, substantially changed the risk profile of the Nation’s ports, waterways, coastal areas, Maritime Transportation System (MTS),
and Maritime Critical Infrastructure and Key Resources (CI/KR). The Coast Guard responded by re‐evaluating and strengthening its abilities to protect these assets from possible terrorist attack. On November 25, 2002, the President signed into effect the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA). The AMSCs were established under this Act, to provide a link for contingency
planning, development, review, and update of Area Maritime Security Plans (AMSP), and to enhance communication between port stakeholders within federal, state and local agencies, and industry
to address maritime security issues.

AMSC Responsibilities

The AMS Committee’s responsibilities include:

• Identify critical port infrastructure and operations.
• Identify risks.
• Determine mitigation strategies and implementation methods.
• Develop and describe the process to continually evaluate overall port security.
• Provide advice to, and assist the COTP in, developing the AMS Plan.
• Serve as a link for communicating threats and changes in Maritime Security (MARSEC) Levels, and disseminating appropriate security information to port stakeholders.