Legal Definitions - United States Coast Guard

The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is a unique branch of the U.S. Armed Forces that serves as both a military service and a law enforcement agency. Its primary responsibilities include enforcing federal laws in waters under U.S. jurisdiction, ensuring the safety of lives and property at sea through regulations and administration, conducting maritime search and rescue operations, and performing oceanographic research. While typically operating under the Department of Homeland Security during peacetime, the Coast Guard can be transferred to the Department of Defense to serve as a specialized branch of the Navy during wartime.

Here are some examples illustrating the diverse functions of the United States Coast Guard:

• Imagine a large commercial tanker attempting to enter a major U.S. port. Before it can dock, a Coast Guard crew boards the vessel to inspect its safety equipment, ensure compliance with environmental regulations regarding waste discharge, and verify the crew's certifications. If any violations are found, the Coast Guard has the authority to issue citations or prevent the vessel from proceeding until issues are resolved.

  This scenario demonstrates the Coast Guard's role in enforcing federal laws applicable to waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction and administering laws and promulgating regulations for the safety of lives and property on waters under U.S. jurisdiction, ensuring that maritime traffic adheres to established safety and environmental standards.

• During a severe storm off the coast of New England, a small fishing boat loses power and begins taking on water, sending out a distress signal. The nearest Coast Guard station receives the alert and immediately dispatches a rescue helicopter and a fast response cutter to locate the vessel and bring the crew to safety.

  This example clearly illustrates the Coast Guard's crucial function of carrying out maritime rescue operations, responding to emergencies at sea to save lives and protect property.

• A foreign-flagged vessel is detected attempting to smuggle a large quantity of illegal narcotics into U.S. territorial waters. A Coast Guard patrol intercepts the vessel, conducts a lawful boarding, and discovers the contraband, leading to the arrest of the crew and seizure of the illegal cargo.

  This situation highlights the Coast Guard's role in enforcing federal laws applicable to waters subject to U.S. jurisdiction, specifically in the context of national security, border protection, and combating illegal activities like drug trafficking.