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Security Levels
Interagency Operations Centers
Interagency Operations Centers (IOCs) transform Coast Guard Sector Command Centers by upgrading their information management tools, integrating existing sensor capabilities and, in some locations, providing shared facility capacity.
Why this project?
The Security and Accountability for Every Port (SAFE Port) Act of 2006 mandated the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) establish Interagency Operations Centers (IOCs) for security in key ports. In response, the Coast Guard began the IOC acquisition project to improve multi-agency maritime security operations and enhance cooperation among partner agencies at 35 U.S. ports. IOCs help port agencies collaborate in the conduct of first response, law enforcement and homeland security operations.
IOCs also help port partners to:
- Collaborate and jointly plan operations through assignment of resources to meet mission demands.
- Share targeting, intelligence and scheduling information to improve situational awareness, uncover gaps in planned and ongoing operations, and reduce duplication of effort between agencies.
- Develop real-time awareness, evaluate threats and deploy resources to the right places through active collection of port activity information.
- Minimize the economic impact from any disruption, whether natural or manmade.
How will the project be implemented?
The heart of the IOC is the WatchKeeper information sharing and management system software. WatchKeeper coordinates and organizes port security information to help DHS and federal, state and local maritime partners make the best use of their resources to keep America’s ports safe. A technology demonstration version of WatchKeeper has been released to approximately half of the port locations.
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