27 Fall 2024 Proceedings Inform Teams conducting formal assessments also produce lists of observations directly tied to ISPS Code references. These observations help partner nations improve secu- rity through compliance with the letter and spirit of the ISPS Code. Though written observations are primarily a product of formal assessments, liaison officers regu- larly convey informal observations, allowing maritime authorities to receive regular iterative evaluations and creating a higher return on investment for host nations and the Coast Guard. Indeed, some nations consider any IPS Program visit to be an external review, which serves to fulfill requirements key to ISPS Code compliance. This tangibly contributory role, alongside the IPS Program’s provision of useful post-evaluation observations and actionable recommendations, is the epitome of mutual benefit in action. The IPS Program’s reputation for agility, responsiveness, utility, and reciprocity have been cred- ited with consistent engagement invitations, exceptional access, and fruitful and inherently symbiotic relation- ships with host nation and U.S. partners. The IPS Program’s custom of sharing best practices is another element of its role to inform. Whether during assessments, capacity-building, or technical assistance, IPS Program personnel use collective and personal expe- riential data to share unattributed best practices with host-nation counterparts. A port security best practice witnessed in sub-Saharan Africa could, with contextual updates, benefit port authorities in Oceania that may have an analogous challenge with slight component dif ferences, but who may be stuck finding a workable or economically viable solution. This best practice sharing mechanism helps transpose solutions from one national context to another, ultimately allowing the IPS Program to draw down global maritime security risks by offering creative mitigation options for common transnational vulnerabilities. - Warn One of the IPS Program’s foremost responsibilities is to warn U.S. and international entities, via public notice, of those countries whose security governance struc- tures and security implementation fall short of inter- national standards. The Port Security Advisory (PSA), built upon the IPS Program’s formal evaluations, coor- dinated with the U.S. interagency, and published in the U.S. Federal Register, provides this public notice. A ves- sel destined for the U.S. after visiting a PSA-listed nation must implement increased security measures while in the country included in the PSA. Additionally, when a vessel arrives in the United States after visiting a nation included on the PSA, the Coast Guard may require it Coast Guard LT Marie CastilloBletso, the chief of the Port Safety and Security Inspections branch at Coast Guard Sector Baltimore, explains the Transportation Worker Identification Credential Program to a group of Argentinean coast guard representatives during an International Port Security Program visit at Sector Baltimore in 2010. The visit included tours of local maritime facilities and opportunities to share information regarding the Coast Guard’s role as ports, waterways, and coastal security specialists. Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Robert Brazzell
