Marine and Ports Branch

The RCMP’s Marine and Ports Branch (MPB) is a key component of the Border Integrity Program. The MPB maintains a strong focus on integration and enhanced partnerships with government and law enforcement agencies (including municipal and provincial police services), responsible for marine security.

The primary focus of the various Marine and Ports programs is national security — targeting terrorist groups and organized crime networks that may utilize Canada’s seaports, coastlines, waterways and marine borders as a conduit for their criminal activities.

The branch also contributes to global marine security by working closely with American and other international law enforcement partners to protect the integrity of our shared waters.

Links to domestic Marine Security Partners

• Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC)
• Department of National Defence (DND)
• Canada Border Services Agency
• Canadian Coast Guard (CCG)
• Transport Canada (TC)
• Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)

STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS MARINE & PORT SECURITY

Background

In 2002, the Government of Canada provided funding over five years for marine security programs. The funding allocated to the RCMP contributed to: the establishment of National Port Enforcement Teams (NPETs); training Emergency Response Teams to conduct marine operations; and security checks relating to port employees.

In April 2004, the Government of Canada announced a Six-Point Action Plan with additional funding for national security initiatives. Through the action plan, the Department of National Defence was assigned lead responsibility for the creation of Marine Security Operations Centres on the east and west coasts, in which the RCMP and other federal agencies are partner agencies.

In the 2005 federal budget, the Government of Canada announced further funding designed to enhance the security of Canada's marine transportation system and maritime borders.

This additional financial support resulted in the development and implementation of five (5) new national marine security initiatives to further strengthen integration among federal, provincial and municipal partners to target, disrupt and eliminate organized crime networks and potential terrorist threats. The five initiatives are: National Port Enforcement Teams, Marine Security Operation Centres, Marine Security Enforcement Teams, Marine Security Emergency Response Teams, and National Waterside Security Coordination Program.

Interdepartmental Marine Security Working Group (IMSWG)

The RCMP is a member of the Interdepartmental Marine Security Working Group (IMSWG) which is a forum for identifying and coordinating federal government actions in support of Canada's objectives — from public security and anti-terrorism in the maritime realm to international marine security obligations.

While there has been significant progress on marine security issues, much remains to be done. Transport Canada (TC) chairs the IMSWG. The membership includes 14 federal departments and agencies with marine security responsibilities. Core departments and agencies are: Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP); Transport Canada (TC); Department of National Defence (DND); Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA); Canadian Coast Guard (CCG); Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO); and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (PSEPC). The IMSWG determines the programs to develop in addressing the four fundamental security activities — domain awareness, responsiveness, safeguarding and collaboration.

The RCMP National Ports Strategy

The National Ports Strategy is part of the RCMP’s overall Border Integrity mandate.

The RCMP established the strategy in 2002 to enhance National Security and target criminal activity at Canada’s major seaports - including Halifax, Montréal and Vancouver, which led to the creation of the integrated National Port Enforcement Teams. (NPETs).

The mandate for the strategy is to take an intelligence-led, multi-disciplinary and integrated approach to significantly disrupt and eliminate organized crime groups or terrorist groups that may use Canada’s seaports as a conduit for illegal cargo and/or persons that could pose a threat to Canada’s national security. While the RCMP is not the local police force of jurisdiction at Canada’s major seaports in Halifax, Montréal and Vancouver, we are mandated to investigate all federal statute offences at Canada’s marine ports.

National Port Enforcement Teams (NPETs)

National Port Enforcement Teams (NPETs) are integrated, intelligence-led teams that investigate federal statute offences at Canadian seaports while maintaining the free flow of goods, persons and services.

The NPETs consist of partners from federal, provincial and municipal law-enforcement agencies that focus on national security investigations, organized crime and other criminality.

These integrated multi-disciplinary intelligence-led teams, located in Halifax, Montreal and Vancouver have been expanded to include more personnel. Plans are underway for the creation of a new team in Hamilton, Ontario by 2007.

The National Port Enforcement Teams (NPETs) are integrated intelligence-led teams located at major ports in Halifax, Montreal and Vancouver. The NPETs consist of partners from federal, provincial and municipal law-enforcement agencies and focus primarily on national security investigations and organized crime.

Marine Security Operation Centers (MSOC)

The RCMP’s Marine and Ports Branch, in partnership with key federal government agencies, is involved in the establishment of three new Marine Security Operation Centres (MSOCs) — the first of their kind in Canada.

The 2004, Securing an Open Society, Canada’s National Security Policy first introduced the need for MSOCs to meet both marine and national security challenges of the 21st century.

In April, 2005, the Government of Canada provided funding over five years aimed at enhancing the security of Canada's marine transportation system and maritime borders, with funding included for MSOCs.

As a result, MSOCs have been established on the east and west coasts (Halifax, N.S. and Esquimalt, B.C. and led by the Department of National Defence), and an interim MSOC has been established for the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway located in the Niagara region (led by the RCMP).

The primary purpose of an MSOC is to produce actionable intelligence, concentrating on national security, organized crime and other criminality and to communicate the information to the appropriate jurisdiction in a timely fashion.

Currently, the MSOCs consist of government departments responsible for marine security and/or for providing asset support and maritime expertise, such as Department of National Defence (DND), Royal Canadian Mounted Police ( RCMP), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), Canadian Coast Guard (CCG), Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), and Transport Canada (TC). The partners will eventually expand to include other law enforcement and public safety agencies.

By bringing together civilian and military interagency staff, the centres will provide a much clearer marine picture through intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance information and will have the authority and capacity to detect, assess and provide a coordinated approach to marine security threats.

The east and west coast centres currently have an interim capability and are projected to be fully staffed and operational by 2010.

Marine Security Enforcement Teams (MSETs)

The RCMP and the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG) have combined their expertise and strengths in a new marine security program to further enhance national security and strengthen Canada’s response to potential threats in the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway region.

This marine partnership brings together two of Canada’s key agencies, creating a security and fast-response capacity that has never before existed.

These Marine Security Enforcement Teams (MSETs) are integrated dedicated units staffed with members from provincial and municipal departments along with the RCMP, working in uniform onboard mid-shore patrol vessels that are crewed by the Canadian Coast Guard (CCG).

The initiative involves the procurement and deployment of 4 permanent patrol vessels on the Great Lakes/St. Lawrence Seaway by April 2010.

In the interim, three vessels (1 RCMP and 2 Coast Guard), have been deployed to conduct joint security patrols in the region until the permanent vessels are built.

The RCMP Patrol Vessel, Simmonds , is a 17.7 m (58 ft) fast patrol catamaran and one of three vessels operating on the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway as part of the Marine Security Enforcement Team (MSET) - a joint marine security partnership involving the RCMP and the Canadian Coast Guard.

These teams are deployed to patrol the Great Lakes/St Lawrence Seaway (GL/SLS). Their primary role is to safeguard and address federal on water enforcement requirements and provide an armed fast-response capacity to address potential threats. These dedicated vessels also, as required, serve as platforms for Marine Security Emergency Response Teams (MSERT).

The enhanced partnership strengthens Canada’s marine enforcement presence in one of the countries busiest marine regions and helps to maintain a safer and more secure environment for all Canadians.

Marine Security Emergency Response Teams (MSERT)

The Marine Intervention Program provides a tactical police response to critical events within the domestic marine environment.

These teams are part of the national Emergency Response Team (ERT) program, which is one of the key components of the Critical Incident Program’s mandate by ensuring that the RCMP is fully prepared to provide coordinated professional response to critical events.

Two new specially trained Marine Security Emergency Response Teams (MSERT) are established in Montreal and Toronto and have marine intervention capability for responding to highly critical and time sensitive situations on the GL/SLS. The teams will integrate provincial and municipal officers from each of the two provinces.

The specialized marine teams give the RCMP an enhanced ability to board ships in Canadian waters and apprehend persons that pose a security risk to Canada. These types of tactical interventions in a maritime environment are high risk requiring highly trained personnel and specialized equipment.

Marine Security Emergency Response Team (MSERT) members undergoing operations training off the coast of British Columbia in 2006.

National Waterside Security Coordination Program

The National Waterside Security Coordination Team conducts research to identify vulnerabilities and provide recommendations on what is needed to close the gaps and provide a coordinated and integrated solution to waterside security.

The team consults with police agencies, federal and provincial government departments and private stakeholders.

The core groups involved in the program are members from provincial and municipal departments along with the RCMP.