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Harbor Safety Committee

The Marine Exchange is under contract from the Office of Spill Prevention and Response (OSPR) to serve as the Executive Secretariat for the LA/LB Harbor Safety Committee (HSC) The HSC is responsible for planning and providing for the safe navigation and operation of all vessels operating within San Pedro Bay, Santa Monica Bay, the Los Angeles/Long Beach port complex (and the approaches thereto); and to address the prevention of oil spills and other mishaps that could endanger (pollute) the harbors, channels and coastal waters within its defined Geographic Boundary. In this section you will find:

Marine Exchange Harbor Security 2018

Port and Maritime Security is a shared responsibility among Federal, State, and Local governments, the Private Sector, and Citizens. If you see something say something. The U.S. Coast Guard conducts and coordinates Port, Waterways, and Coastal Security operations in the maritime realm. The following sections of Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) are germane:

Title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR)

§ 1.01-30 Captains of the Port.

(U.S. Coast Guard) Captains of the Port (COTP) and their representatives enforce within their respective areas port safety and security and marine environmental protection regulations, including, without limitation, regulations for the protection and security of vessels, harbors, and waterfront facilities; anchorages; security zones; safety zones; regulated navigation areas; deepwater ports; water pollution; and ports and waterways safety.

§ 103.200 Designation of the Federal Maritime Security Coordinator (FMSC).

The COTPs are the Federal Maritime Security Coordinators for their respective COTP zones described in 33 CFR part 3, including all ports and areas located therein.

§ 103.205 Authority of the COTP as the Federal Maritime Security Coordinator (FMSC).

(a) Without limitation to the authority vested in the COTP by statute or regulation, and in addition to authority prescribed elsewhere in this part, the COTP as the FMSC is authorized to:

  • (1) Establish, convene, and direct the Area Maritime Security (AMS) Committee;
  • (2) Appoint members to the AMS Committee;
  • (3) Develop and maintain, in coordination with the AMS Committee, the AMS Plan;
  • (4) Implement and exercise the AMS Plan; and
  • (5) Maintain the records required by § 103.520 of this part.

(b) The authorizations in paragraph (a) of this section do not limit any other existing authority of the COTP.

More information can be found on the Homeport website.