Security Levels
SECTOR SAN JUAN
MSD ST THOMAS
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MSD Saint Thomas is a detachment of USCG Sector San Juan. The detachment's personnel maintain vigilance over the Caribbean Islands of Saint Thomas, Saint John and Water Island. At center stage is Saint Thomas, one of the most popular cruise ship destinations in the world with more than 800cruise ships visiting each year. These ships bring in excess of 1.8 million visitors to the islands annually. Our unit conducts inspections on more than 60 cruise ships, 130 inspected small passenger vessels, 30 of which are high capacity ferry boats that carry up to 300 passengers, an estimated 225 un-inspected commercial vessels, one of the largest pleasure boat populations in the Caribbean, and three Container terminals.
Our primary responsibility is the protection of the marine environment and the promotion of safe passage of marine related traffic carrying passengers, oil, hazardous products and consumer goods within our area of responsibility. In addition the officers and crew conduct marine inspections, casualty investigations, pollution response, port operations and waterways management activities. The islands are also environmentally sensitive. Living marine reefs and beaches that are considered to be some of the most beautiful in the world surround them. With it close proximity to foreign territories (less than 1 mile) and the only Coast Guard representation within our AOR, the MSD is seen as the “go to” unit for all Coast Guard surface operations and media inquiries.
Operations Overview
With six active duty, one civilian, and eight reservists on full time active duty, the officers and crew at MSD St. Thomas routinely perform all Marine Safety and HLS related operational functions. This includes conducting Small Passenger Vessel (T- Boat) inspections, Cruise ship Vessel Examinations, Port State Control boardings on Foreign Freight Vessels and CCSSC (Caribbean Cargo Ships) and SOLAS vessels. Personnel respond to and investigate pollution cases and marine casualty cases. MSD St. Thomas’ deep-draft boardings are concentrated on cruise ship vessels making arrival in Charlotte Amalie on St Thomas and Cruz Bay on St John. Charlotte Amalie is St. Thomas’ main harbor. Cruise ships tie-up either at the West Indies Company dock (WICO) or at the Crown Bay Marina dock in Sub Base. This is so named for the U. S. Naval facility that used to have a sub base located in the same place. There is no facility on St John to accommodate cruise ships, they typically anchor just off of Cruz Bay.
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Contact Information:
LCDR Bryson Spangler
LT Sarah K. Rousseau
Supervisor
Assistant Supervisor
Tel. (340) 776-3497 ext. 200
Ext. 209
Fax. (340) 774-1687
1 KingWharf Waterfront, St. Thomas, VI 00804
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Life in St. Thomas
There is no military housing on St. Thomas. All assigned personnel live on the economy. Cost of living is comparable to any big city in the United States. With tourism being the number one industry St. Thomas has a number of websites with information on life in the islands.
1 KingWharf Waterfront, St. Thomas, VI 00804
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