Chances are you’ve never heard of MARSEC. It’s the maritime security threat-level system, and is very different from the Homeland Security, color-coded level, explained Bob Crowell, state Department of Transportation Harbors Division harbormaster at Nawiliwili. Basically, there are three levels
Chances are you’ve never heard of MARSEC.
It’s the maritime security threat-level system, and is very different from the Homeland Security, color-coded level, explained Bob Crowell, state Department of Transportation Harbors Division harbormaster at Nawiliwili.
Basically, there are three levels in MARSEC, each with a number from one to three assigned to it.
- Level 1 means “business as usual,” he said;
- Level 2 means heightened security, similar to the Homeland Security’s orange level, and will trigger more security screenings and security patrols to be dispatched in the harbor area;
- Level 3, “which we hope never happens on Kaua‘i, (means) that we are the target,” and will trigger special national, state and local responses, he said.
While the Coast Guard captain of the Port of Honolulu makes the calls on the MARSEC level, a level-3 alert for Honolulu Harbor doesn’t necessarily mean a similar level for Nawiliwili, Crowell said.
Different harbors may operate under different threat levels at the same time, he explained Tuesday.
