Frontier Sentinel exercise in VA and NC waters | 06.13.2006 | 07:13:41 | Views: 4884 | ID: June 13 '06: A local Virginia NBC affiliate reported that a joint Coast Guard, Navy, FBI and Department of Homeland Security exercise off the coast of North Carolina, called Frontier Sentinel, will focus on cooperation among federal agencies in the event of a terrorist attack or national/natural emergency. The Virginia-Pilot reported Monday that the agencies involved are participating in a "layered defense" exercise which would "allow the Navy to turn over forces to the Coast Guard for specific operations. The Coast Guard always has been able to send forces to the Navy. ... Sharing forces will allow the two services to respond together, ensure jurisdictional requirements are met and evidence and forensics are protected." The Pilot continued, "Using the newly formed Maritime Security Response Team, a Chesapeake-based Coast Guard unit formed a year ago, members will board a Coast Guard H-60 helicopter out of Wilmington, NC, land on a Navy ship for fuel and resupply, then head to sea to intercept the suspect ship. A Coast Guard cutter also will play in the maneuvers." The scenario of a dangerous ship entering US waters and requiring cross-jurisdictional cooperation was a recent scenario postulated by homeland security officials, the Associated Press reported. During a two-day port security conference in New York City, experts and officials thought of "the nightmare scenario" of "terrorists taking over a Liberian cargo ship shortly before it enters New York harbor. They ram it into a crowded Staten Island ferry leaving lower Manhattan and then explode a 'dirty bomb' nuclear device." "Meanwhile," the AP continued, "a mine detonates under a cargo vessel near Norfolk, VA., effectively shutting down another of the East Coast's busiest ports and its biggest naval base." During the Frontier Sentinel exercise, participants will rappel down the side of the ship in question and seize control. FBI officials are planned to be present to monitor the activities and help "the military understand their role," the Pilot reported.
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