RCMP and USGC begin Joint Marine Pilot Project in Detroit/Windsor Region

Backgrounder - Shiprider Pilot Project

OTTAWA – On September 12th, 2005, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) began a two-week pilot project to enhance inland marine border security. The pilot project, based on the innovative law enforcement concept, known as “Shiprider,” will involve joint marine patrols on the St. Clair River and surrounding waterways in the Windsor/Detroit region.

During the project, USCG officers will join RCMP officers on their vessels, and conversely, RCMP officers will join USCG officers on their vessels. The four 25-foot rigid hull boats taking part in the pilot will patrol and travel in American and Canadian waters in the region.

The Shiprider pilot program will help assess the viability of developing a longer-term Canada-US program for stronger maritime law enforcement and emergency response capacity to national security or other criminal activity on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. The pilot project is consistent with, and complementary to, commitments outlined in both the National Security Policy and the Security and Prosperity Partnership.

“The RCMP continues to work closely with US law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of the Canada-US maritime border,” said RCMP Chief Superintendent, Mike McDonell, Director General, Border Integrity. “By enhancing our bi-national partnerships, both countries are better able to detect and prevent criminal activities that could pose a serious threat to national and international security.”

"The international border between the United States and Canada on the Great Lakes is a source of pride for two countries. Ironically, for those who would do us harm, this border can be used as a shield for criminal activities, said Rear Admiral Robert J. Papp, Jr., Commander, Ninth Coast Guard District. "We will continue our long-standing cross-border cooperation with Canada in search and rescue, ice breaking, aids to navigation and pollution response, and the Shiprider pilot program will extend this collaboration into the missions of law enforcement and national security."

A fact sheet on the Shiprider pilot project is attached.

More information on the RCMP can be found at: www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca.

More information on the USCG can be found at: www.d9publicaffairs.com

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Backgrounder - Shiprider Pilot Project

• The Shiprider pilot project represents an innovative and integrated approach for the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and United States Coast Guard (USCG) to conduct joint maritime law enforcement operations on inland Canadian and US waters.
  
  
• Beginning September 12, 2005, the RCMP will jointly patrol shared waterways in the Windsor/Detroit region with the USCG as part of a two-week Shiprider pilot program aimed at enhancing intelligence capacity and interdiction flexibility to respond to organized crime and other types of criminality.
  
  
• Four 25-foot rigid hull boats will be used during the two-week period and will be clearly identified with “police” markings. RCMP and USCG operations could include detection, monitoring, pursuit, and boarding of suspect vessels in US and Canadian waters.  All law enforcement operations and activities in Canadian waters will be led by RCMP officers.
  
  
• While in Canada, the USCG officers will be acting as Canadian peace officers assisting the RCMP in its enforcement of Canadian laws. USCG officers on board are available to provide assistance during enforcement operations and activities, only when directed to do so by RCMP officers. The reverse would be true in American waters.
  
  
• The pilot project will enable the RCMP and the USCG to assess all aspects of the Shiprider concept of operations. This assessment will, in turn, help both the Canadian and US Governments in determining whether the Shiprider concept is a desirable and viable binational law enforcement program for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway in the longer-term.
  
  
• Enhancing marine security is a major part of the Government’s public safety agenda and was outlined as a key commitment in Canada’s National Security Policy (NSP).
  
  
• Since 2001, the government has invested some $930 million for projects that enhance marine security, including measures to protect marine infrastructure, increase the surveillance of maritime traffic, and improve Canada’s law enforcement coordination and security presence in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway.
  
  
• As outlined in the North America Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), the Government is equally committed to working with the US and other partners to pursue and implement a strategy to enhance maritime transportation and port security as well as combat transnational threats, including terrorism, organized criminal activities, such as migrant and contraband smuggling and trafficking.