Maritime Safety and Security Team

A Maritime Safety and Security Team, or MSST, is a counter-terrorism team of the United States Coast Guard established to protect local maritime assets. It is also a harbor and inshore patrol and security team that includes detecting and, if necessary, stopping or arresting submerged divers, using the Underwater Port Security System.
MSSTs were created under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 in direct response to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, and they are a part of the United States Department of Homeland Security's layered strategy directed at protecting seaports and waterways. MSSTs provide waterborne and a modest level of shore-side counter-terrorism force protection for strategic shipping, high interest vessels, and critical infrastructure. MSSTs are a quick response force capable of rapid nationwide deployment via air, ground or sea transportation in response to changing threat conditions and evolving Maritime Homeland Security mission requirements. Multi-mission capability facilitates augmentation for other selected Coast Guard missions.
MSST personnel receive training in Advanced Tactical Boat Operations and counter-terrorism force protection at the Special Missions Training Center at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

Mission

Modeled after the Port Security Unit and Law Enforcement Detachment programs, MSSTs provide a complementary non-redundant capability designed to close critical security gaps in United States strategic seaports. MSSTs are staffed to support continuous law enforcement operations both ashore and afloat. In addition, MSSTs:

Jointly staffed to maximize effectiveness executing Port, Waterways, and Coastal Security operations.
Provide enhanced port safety and security and law enforcement capabilities to the economic or military significant port where they are based.
Deploy in support of National Special Security Events requiring Coast Guard presence, such as OpSail, Olympics, Republican and Democratic national conventions, major disasters or storm recovery operations.
Prototype/employ specialized capabilities to enhance mission performance.
Deploy on board cutters and other naval vessels for port safety and security, drug law enforcement, migrant interdiction, or other maritime homeland security mission requirements.
Support Naval Coastal Warfare requirements during Homeland Defense and in accordance with long standing agreements with DOD and the Combatant Commanders