Armed US Coast Guard soldiers patrol waterfront

Main Stories

ARMED soldiers of the United States Coast Guard are now are now providing security around the Port Moresby waterfront.
Commander Michael McCarthy, of the Port Security Unit 305 from Fort Eustis Virginia, said 95 of them were here to support the Joint Security Task Force provide inshore shallow-water security .
“We are now engaged with the Australian Navy and New Zealand Navy with the PNG Joint Maritime Security Task Force that comprises PNG Defence Force maritime element and PNG Water Police,” he said.
“Right now we are enforcing the restricted maritime security area with other members of the JTSF around the Apec Haus and the three cruise ships.”
McCarthy said on Saturday they came fully prepared and it took them a few days just to integrate with PNG water police to understand each other’s tactics.
“We have eight transportable security boats just under 10 meters long with eight crew member working on each of these boats on a 24 hour basis.
We are working with the JSTF taking watch of the areas that are out of bounds to the general public, fishermen and sailors during Leaders Week from Nov 12-18.”
McCarthy expressed he pleased to be in PNG providing water security during such an event for a small country. “We’ve had some fishermen out at sea, but we have spoken to them and passed on some fliers and it’s been a very friendly exchange.”
Meanwhile PNG Water Police director Chief Superintendent Trevor Lapu said that two more Australian navy ships had arrived on Friday to boost the maritime security operations along the restricted zone. “They are HMAS Glenegl and HMAS Larrakia. HMAS Adelaide was already here with the US Coast Guards two weeks ago.”