SIDE BAR

May 2005

Coast Guard Regaining Focus on WMD

By Joe Pappalardo

The Coast Guard is trying to regain its Cold War proficiency in dealing with weapons of mass destruction attacks and outfitting crews to be better prepared for possible toxic exposure while conducting security missions.

From new ship designs to equipment for boarding crews, the focus on weapons of mass destruction is imperative in the face of the 21st century threats. However, there was a concerted effort to trim that capability after the Soviet Union collapsed. “The threat was seen coming from Soviet missiles with biological or chemical agents on them,” says Cmdr. Matthew Gimple, executive officer of the USCG Cutter Mellon. “After September 11, when we understood the threats were closer to home, that perspective changed.”

Now that port security is again at the forefront of the national security agenda, the Coast Guard is again finding itself preparing for, and trying to halt, weapons of mass destruction attacks. Since 2001, new equipment has been trickling into the hands of Coast Guard boarding crews to detect and protect them from chemical, biological and radiological weapons. These new devices are generally off-the-shelf items, rather than the hand-me-down gear from the U.S. Navy that traditionally used to protect the ship.

“Whenever we get something new, we get excited,” said Ensign Ken Burgess, the Mellon’s damage control assistant. “We keep getting this interesting stuff for the boarding teams, so if there’s a chance we’ll get hit, we’ll be ready.”

New equipment creates a need for training those who might need to use it. Burgess is in charge of that training and he receives CD-ROM packages months in advance of the gear’s arrival. There are also secure websites for technical support.

USCG boarding crews are outfitted with a six-piece kit, including detectors and protective gear, in case they encounter radiological or chemical threats. For example, in January, the crews of the USCG cutter Mellon received brand new nerve and chemical agent detectors, as well as personal radiation isotopic sensors and chemical charcoal skin washes. The new devices are much smaller, more rugged and easier to maintain, which is a welcome change from the outdated gear. Also on the Mellon, each crewmember has a fitted mask that is stored in a decontamination hallway with their names taped onto the bags.

Another new piece of equipment, delivered to Coast Guard ships in 2004, are confined space entry kits, designed to warn boarding crews against dangerous gasses. These analyzers measure oxygen levels, explosives, hydrosulfides and carbon monoxide. One key feature is a system that can measure air quality using a thin plastic tube, which can be dropped or inserted through hatches.

Basic training is standard on all USCG ships, but when they deploy to high-risk areas, the level is increased. Deploying to the Persian Gulf warrants a higher level of readiness than a counter-narcotics mission.

Recent budget decisions emphasize this shift in focus. The President’s proposed Department of Homeland Security 2006 budget includes a $7 million increase for equipping the Coast Guard with radiological and nuclear detection and protection gear, says Cmdr. Scott Decker, deputy office chief with the USCG’s office of defense operations.

The funds are meant to increase the detection and response capability of maritime safety and security teams (MSSTs) in Chesapeake, New Orleans and San Diego. The scramble after 9/11 meant reshuffling the equipment within the Coast Guard. In the aftermath, gear from ships like the Mellon was distributed to MSSTs.

Also funded in the increase is the outfitting the 378-foot and 270-foot cutter fleets with Specific Emitter Identifiers, high-resolution detectors that can identify the presence of radiological materials.

Replacements for the cutters—the national security cutters that are being built under the aegis of the Deepwater program—are being reconfigured to operate in a contaminated environment. Reverse pressure chambers to purge toxins from the ships, as well as sophisticated decontamination chambers, are being included in the design.

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