5 Takeaways from My U.S. Coast Guard Visit with the Pacific Council
Group photo of Pacific Council members with Admiral Linda L. Fagan and the U.S Coast Guard K-9s.
By Robert (Bob) Moore
On December 5, 2024, I received the opportunity to join the Pacific Council for a ship visit to the United States Coast Guard. I came away immensely impressed with the professionalism and competence of the individual guardsmen we spent time with and a better understanding of the immense scope of responsibilities with which Base Los Angeles / Long Beach is charged. I came to realize how much we take for granted the efforts the organization provides with respect to addressing human and illicit drug smuggling in California’s navigable waters, as well as the safety and security of the international commerce flowing through the two busiest ports in the United States.
From my visit with the Pacific Council, here are the top 5 things I learned:
Container Inspections: Of the some 6,000 vessel arrivals delivering some $600 billion in import commerce each year, container inspections are highly targeted. The Coast Guard examines 6,200 containers out of the 9 million 20-foot equivalent units unloaded at the ports each year.
Cybersecurity Concerns: Cybersecurity is a significant concern, with the Maritime Security (MARSEC) Directive specifically addressing potential threats from the Chinese that could be vulnerable to operational shutdowns via port cranes.
Human Smuggling Economics: Human smuggling has become increasingly lucrative for cartels, with potential returns of $15,000 to $18,000 per person, making it more immediately profitable than drug smuggling. With stronger land border enforcement efforts anticipated in the near future, the Coast Guard foresees a significant increase in coastal human and drug smuggling activities.
K-9 Units: The K9 units utilize specialized Belgian Malinois dogs, which are equipped with unique protective measures such as cobalt-chromium tooth caps to address their aggressive chewing habits and can be fitted with protective helmets. (One of the dogs immediately ran to me, crawled up my leg affectionately hugging me, and wouldn’t let go—I promise I had no explosive materials in my pockets!)
Port of Long Beach and SpaceX: The Port of Long Beach is also a strategic location for maritime operations. It currently hosts SpaceX's booster recovery facilities and is preparing to bring additional spacecraft recovery operations from Florida.
View images from the Pacific Council’s U.S. Coast Guard visit HERE.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of the Pacific Council.
