U.S. COAST GUARD SHIP PAYS VISIT TO PALAU
‘Ship Rider’ program to monitor borders

By Nazario Rodriguez Jr.

KOROR, Palau (Palau Horizon, April 14, 2008) – Rear Admiral Sally Brice-O’Hara, Commander of the United States Coast Guard Fourteenth District based in Honolulu, Hawaii, has just completed a four-day visit in Palau.

O’Hara met with reporters on Tuesday to share the purpose of her visit here including about the recently signed permanent ship-rider agreement between the US and Palau, the only Pacific Island country to do so.

The ship-rider is an agreement where in Palau’s Patrol Boat H.I. Remeliik’s crew can board US Coast Guard ships, particularly Sequoia and Assateague under Capt. Bill Marhoffer, in joint efforts to monitor the 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone of Palau.

O’Hara said she had an opportunity to meet with officials of various government agencies specifically the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Commerce and Trade and Ministry of Resources and Development on many issues such as joint efforts for search and rescue.

O’Hara said she had the opportunity to look at the resources of Palau.

The USCG has committed to provide training assistance for search and rescue operations.

The ship-rider agreement touches on all transnational crimes but Palau is focused on illegal fishing.

O’Hara said there is no indication yet of other illegal activities like smuggling and "terrorism" but they will continue to use all applicable laws and stop all persons and commodities from entering the country without the proper documents.

She also said that Palau authorities will have to enforce all applicable laws against illegal fishermen and those who are caught would be prosecuted.

Rear Admiral Sally Brice-O'Hara became the Commander of the Fourteenth Coast Guard District and Pacific Area Deputy Commander for East Asia – Pacific Engagement on May 3, 2006.

The Fourteenth District's Search and Rescue area of responsibility covers nearly 12.2 million square miles of the Central Pacific Ocean, an area more than two and a half times larger than the Continental United States.

She oversees the operation of 29 units performing missions in Maritime Safety, Maritime Mobility, Protection of Natural Resources, Maritime Security, Homeland Security, and National Defense. As the Deputy Commander for East Asia – Pacific Engagement, she is charged with representing the Pacific Area Commander in planning and operational fora where the Coast Guard can support U.S. national security objectives in the Pacific Rim.

RADM Brice-O’Hara also served as Director, Joint Interagency Task Force West from August to November 2006.

A standing Joint Task Force, JIATF West is the U.S. Pacific Command’s executive agent for planning and conducting counter-drug strategy in an area of operations covering over 105 million square miles.

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