Maritime Safety and Security Team , or MSST , is a counter-terrorism team of the United States Coast Guard established to protect local maritime assets . It is also a harbor and inshore patrol and security team that includes detecting and , if necessary , stopping or arresting submerged divers , using the Underwater Port Security System . It is the only special operations group that can arrest submerged divers . MSSTs were created under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 ( MTSA ) in direct response to the terrorist attacks on 11 Sept. 2001 , and they are a part of the United States Department of Homeland Security 's layered strategy directed at protecting seaports and waterways . MSSTs provide waterborne and a modest level of shore-side counter-terrorism force protection for strategic shipping , high interest vessels , and critical infrastructure . MSSTs are a quick response force capable of rapid nationwide deployment via air , ground or sea transportation in response to changing threat conditions and evolving Maritime Homeland Security ( MHS ) mission requirements . Multi-mission capability facilitates augmentation for other selected Coast Guard missions . MSST personnel receive training in Advanced Tactical Boat Operations and counter-terrorism force protection at the Joint Maritime Training Center at Camp Lejeune , North Carolina
attacks on 11 Sept. 2001
September 11 attacks
Maritime Safety and Security Team