U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), Office of Field Operations, at Charleston seaport joined with local, state, federal law enforcement and emergency services agencies for training onboard the Carnival Ecstasy cruise ship yesterday.
This CBP-led training was designed to give Charleston-area law enforcement and first responders an opportunity to tour the 855-foot ship.
In addition, participating agencies were able to identify areas of interest to their organizations’ specific responsibilities and meet with Carnival’s Miami-based security management and shipboard teams.
“Port security is not just the responsibility of one person or one agency,” said CBP Charleston Area Port Director Robert Fencel.
“The overwhelming participation by the Charleston-area public safety agencies highlights the strength of our community.”
“The attendance by Carnival Cruise Lines’ senior security management from Miami reflects their high level of support and continued partnership in this important mission.”
Areas covered during the training and tour included:
- The engine room
- Fire prevention equipment
- Medical capabilities
- Safety and security protocols
- The command bridge
- Passenger and crew cabins, and
- Ship storage areas
For more on CBP’s border security mission at our nation’s ports of entry, please visit the Port Security section of the CBP website.
Agencies involved in the Charleston seaport event included:
- US Customs and Border Protection
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- US Coast Guard, South Carolina Law Enforcement Division
- SC Department of Natural Resources
- SC National Guard
- SC Air National Guard
- Charleston County Sheriff’s Department
- Charleston County Emergency Medical Services
- City of Charleston Police Department
- North Charleston Police Department
- North Charleston Fire Department, and
- Mount Pleasant Police Department
Locate Port Information
CBP provides security and facilitation operations at 328 ports of entry throughout the country.
Use this interactive map to find information specific to air, sea and land entries.
