COAST GUARD SUPPORTS PORT STABILIZATION EFFORT IN HAITI

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MIAMI - The Coast Guard began conducting operations in the vicinity of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Wednesday to help facilitate the normalization of commercial and humanitarian shipping operations in the port and support the Multinational Interim Force - Haiti's (MIF-H) stabilization effort.

A detachment of Coast Guard Maritime Safety and Security Team 91104, based in Galveston, Texas, is conducting port security operations and the Coast Guard Cutter Cypress, a 225-foot buoy tender homeported in Mobile, Ala., is improving the navigational system in the port with improved aids to navigation.

The Cypress already conducted a channel survey of the approaches to Port-au-Prince harbor to identify the need and location of navigational aids. Wednesday the crew of Cypress began work on approximately a dozen aids, including placing new aids and repairing some existing ones.

A properly marked navigational channel will significantly improve Haiti's maritime transportation system and facilitate the safer movement of commercial and humanitarian aid shipments to the port.

"Improving the safety and security of Port-au-Prince harbor is a critical step to restoring the access to existing port infrastructure and will aid in the stabilization of the situation in Haiti by normalizing commercial activities and facilitating more efficient humanitarian aid activities," said Rear Admiral Harvey E. Johnson, Director, Homeland Security Task Force Southeast.

Today, MSST 91104, along with the cutters Diligence, Escanaba and Kodiak Island provided security escort to the Military Sealift Command ship, Flickertail State, delivering equipment and supplies to MIF-H.

A robust presence of Homeland Security ships, boats and aircraft continue to patrol the Windward Pass and Coastal South Florida to deter potential migrants and provide for the border security of the United States.

MSSTs are multi-mission units established following the attacks of Sept. 11 to enhance the Coast Guard's port security and force protection capabilities. Their typical duties include: protecting military load-outs, enforcing security zones, defending critical waterside facilities in strategic ports and interdicting illegal activities.