The Maritime Infrastructure Recovery Plan for The National Strategy for Maritime Security

By signing National Security Presidential Directive 41/Homeland Security Presidential Directive 13 (NSPD 41/HSPD 13), President Bush underscored the importance of securing the Maritime Domain, defined as "All areas and things of, on, under, relating to, adjacent to, or bordering on a sea, ocean, or other navigable waterway, including all maritime related activities, infrastructure, people, cargo, and vessels and other conveyances." NSPD 41/HSPD 13 established a Maritime Security Policy Coordinating Committee (MSPCC)-the first coordinating committee specifically tasked to address this issue-to oversee the development of a National Strategy for Maritime Security (NSMS) and eight supporting implementation plans: The National Plan to Achieve Maritime Domain Awareness lays the foundation for an effective understanding of anything associated with the Maritime Domain and identifying threats as early and as distant from our shores as possible. The Global Maritime Intelligence Integration Plan uses existing capabilities to integrate all available intelligence regarding potential threats to U.S. interests in the Maritime Domain. The Maritime Operational Threat Response Plan aims for coordinated U.S. government response to threats against the U.S. and its interests in the Maritime Domain by establishing roles and responsibilities, which enable the government to respond quickly and decisively. The International Outreach Strategy to Enhance Maritime Security provides a framework to coordinate all maritime security initiatives undertaken with foreign governments and international organizations, and solicits international support for enhanced maritime security. The Maritime Infrastructure Recovery Plan recommends standardized procedures for restoration of maritime transportation systems following an incident of national significance. The Maritime Transportation Systems Security Plan provides strategic recommendations to holistically improve the security of maritime transportation systems. The Maritime Commerce Security Plan establishes a comprehensive plan to secure the maritime supply chain. The Domestic Outreach Plan engages non-federal input to assist with the development and implementation of maritime security policies resulting from NSPD 41/HSPD 13. Although these plans address different aspects of maritime security, they are mutually linked and reinforce each other. Together, NSMS and its supporting plans represent the beginning of a comprehensive national effort to promote global economic stability and protect legitimate activities, while preventing hostile or illegal acts within the Maritime Domain.