USCG has published a new Navigation and Vessel Inspection (NVIC) Circular , entitled “Guidelines For Drafting The Marine Transportation System Recovery Plan,” to provide guidance on how to develop and maintain the MTS Recovery Plan. Namely, the circular provides a common template for the development of MTS Recovery Plans to address all hazards, MTS recovery processes and procedures while promoting unity of effort among all stakeholders with MTS recovery interests within each Captain of the Port zone.
The Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 requires COTPs, as federal maritime security coordinators, to implement and exercise Area Maritime Security Plans (AMSP) to enhance deterrence and response to Transportation Security Incidents (TSI) and maritime terrorism threats. The AMSP is required to include a Salvage Response Plan and to establish area response and recovery protocols to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a TSI.
However, these protocols can be applied to other non-security operations, such as an oil/hazardous material release, a natural disaster response, mass rescue operations, or other contingency events. The MTSRP supports recovery and restoration of the MTS in order to effectively and efficiently resume port operations following a disruption to the MTS, no matter the source of the disruption.
Explore more by reading NVIC 04-18
