Lightning Strikes Tampa Bay : Local Law Enforcement Agencies Join in Bay Operation
Story by PA1 Tasha Tully, PADET St. Petersburg, Fla.
Photos by PA2 Bobby Nash, PADET Jacksonville, Fla.
TAMPA, Fla. - Several local and federal law-enforcement agencies in and around the Tampa Bay area joined together April 21 for operation "Lightning Strike", an operation focusing on vessel safety inspections, background checks and port security.
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| CORTEZ, Fla. -- Petty Officer 2nd Class (Mk2) James Swaney gives directions to some boaters enjoying the Florida sun. Swaney just completed a safety boarding on the vessel and explained to them the dangers of bow riding, which is illegal. Coast Guard photograph by PA2 Bobby Nash. |
The operation comprised of Coast Guard units from Sector St. Petersburg, Station St. Petersburg, Station Sand Key, Station Cortez and Air Station Clearwater. The law-enforcement agencies included were the Hillsborough, Pinellas and Manatee County Sheriff's Department Marine Units, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and the Tampa Police Department. Agents from the Defense Criminal Investigation Service, FBI and Border Patrol also assisted in the effort.
"The operation has several purposes, mainly port-security. We want everyone to know we're here," said Coast Guard Lt. Nelson Santiago, Sector St. Petersburg's vessel boarding and security team leader. "Inter-agency cooperation is another main focus in this operation. It is important for law-enforcement agencies to work together toward a common goal."
Collectively, the agencies conducted 155 boardings in a six-hour period, which consisted of officials inspecting the vessel's safety, checking for required safety equipment and 100 percent identification checks on each individual in the vessel.
"Identities are checked to ensure the security of the bay," explained Santiago. "We verify that they are, in fact, the person they say they are. We check for warrants or criminal history, immigration violations, drugs and possible terrorist activity."
In addition to vessel checks, Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg's prevention department conducted 11 facility inspections. Under the Maritime Transportation Security Act (MTSA), port facilities are required to maintain a federally approved security plan. The Coast Guard is tasked with ensuring port facility operators comply with the provisions of their approved plans.
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| CORTEZ, Fla. -- Petty Officer 2nd Class (BM2) Matt Moskowitz, instructs a boater where to place their garbage placard. BM2 Moskowitz just completed a safety boarding on the vessel to ensure it had all the required items on board. Coast Guard photogrpah by PA2 Bobby Nash. |
"Part of these enforcement actions include random inspections like the ones conducted today," said Lt. Ken Morton, Sector St. Petersburg's prevention department facilities compliance branch chief. "It ensures that facilities are compliant with security regulations, which, in turn, creates a more secure port."
Seventh Coast Guard District personnel inspected 2,956 MTSA regulated shore-side facilities and conducted 1,565 security examinations of regulated vessels to help ensure the safety of America's ports and waterways last fiscal year.
In total, Operation Lightning Strike was a success. Three citations were issued to boaters for violating safety requirements. With more than 300 identities checked, no persons with out-standing warrants were found and no arrests were made. Among the MTSA regulated facilities, no significant discrepancies were noted and no notices of violation were issued.
"Our law enforcement partners, the maritime industry, and the Coast Guard continuously work together to ensure our ports and waterways are operated in the most secure manner possible," said Capt. Joseph Servidio, commanding officer of Coast Guard Sector St. Petersburg. "Through forums such as the Regional Domestic Security Task Force and the Area Maritime Security Committee, port security focused coordination and cooperation between Tampa Bay agencies is among the best in the country. We look forward to continuing to build our security partnerships through exercises and operations such as this."
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