Shiprider Training
Captured in photos
Two countries, one team. Canada and the United States have permanently joined law enforcement officers in a historic North American partnership, boosting security in our shared waters.
The idea of a joint Canada-U.S. law enforcement partnership on our shared maritime border grew out of the IBET model which fosters strong international partnerships. Shiprider is the maritime operational arm of the IBET program.
Integrated Cross Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations (ICMLEO), often called "Shiprider," is a newly legislated border security arrangement between Canada and the United States.
The program involves vessels jointly crewed by specially trained and cross-designated Canadian and U.S. law enforcement officers authorized to enforce the law on both sides of the international maritime boundary.
Before officers can participate in Shiprider operations, they are required to take part in joint classroom and scenario-based training that focuses on respective domestic enforcement authorities and on-water operational procedures.
The training is truly integrated to the point that approximately half of the instructors are Canadian and half are American. In April and May 2012, an ambitious agenda was successfully rolled out whereby more than 80 officers from both countries received Shiprider training in three back-to-back sessions (eight days each). The training took place at the well-equipped U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) in Charleston, South Carolina.
A Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer and a United States Coast Guard officer, both instructors during the April-May 2012 Shiprider training, dress in formal uniform during graduation ceremonies at the Maritime Law Enforcement Academy in Charleston, South Carolina.
Several high-level dignitaries and senior law enforcement officers from the various agencies visited the US Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) during the training sessions, including Canada's Ambassador to the United States, Gary Doer (center) and RCMP Assistant Commissioner of Federal and International Operations, Todd Shean (left) seen here with the Commanding Officer of the MLEA, Commander Paul Baker.
The Shiprider training module contains three days of classroom instruction and five days of scenario training which take place on land-based platforms built around actual vessels.
An RCMP instructor talks to law enforcement officers taking part in joint Canada-US 'Shiprider' training exercises at the U.S. Coast Guard Maritime Law Enforcement Academy (MLEA) in Charleston, South Carolina.
Though the RCMP and the US Coast Guard are the Central Authorities, for the program, several other U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies have received Shiprider training including U.S. Customs Border Protection, the Ontario Provincial Police, and several local, regional, and tribal police services.
A U.S. Coast Guard instructor provides feedback following a mock vessel platform boarding.
Several U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies receiving Shiprider training.
Several U.S. and Canadian law enforcement agencies receiving Shiprider training.
Three federal agencies - U.S. Coast Guard, CBP-U.S. Border Patrol and the RCMP - train together in scenario-based platform exercises.
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