U.S. Coast Guard

In partnership with the United States Embassy Port Moresby. The program was attended by more than 40 Papua New Guinea port security officials.

Lieutenant Commander Adam Mullins, Activities Far East, Japan, said, "The U.S. Coast Guard has worked directly with the Department of Transport to tailor this seminar to the needs that were identified by Papua New Guinea. The knowledge gained from this seminar will be used by ports around the country to enhance their port security programs, thus enhancing the security of the worldwide maritime transportation system."

The U.S and Papua New Guinea officials will meet to discuss a bilateral Ship Rider agreement through which both countries will cooperate to combat illegal maritime activity in PNG waters. 

The bilateral Ship Rider agreement will be a force multiplier for both PNG and the United States because it will allow Papua New Guinean maritime law enforcement personnel to observe, protect, board, and search vessels suspected of violating laws or regulations within Papua New Guinean waters with the support of U.S. Coast Guard personnel and vessels.

This was reported by officials on Monday.

The agency has seized 119,000 pounds of cocaine worth more than $1.8 billion so far this year, Adm. Paul Zukunft said before crews used a crane to move dozens of massive drug bundles off a Coast Guard vessel in San Diego.