The Maritime Security Working Group, working on behalf of the Maritime  Security Policy Coordination Committee, is currently responsible for  monitoring and assessing implementation of actions related to the  supporting plans. The National Strategy for Maritime Security and Its Eight Supporting Implementation Plans Address or Partially Address All of the Desirable Characteristics of a National Strategy

Of the six desirable characteristics of an effective national strategy that  GAO identified in 2004, the National Strategy for Maritime Security and  its eight supporting implementation plans together address four and  partially address two. Maritime Security Working Group Reports that the Implementation of Supporting Plans Varies

Documents provided to us by the Maritime Security Working Group  indicate that the implementation of the supporting plans varies and the  working group reported one plan had been completed, another has  reached the assessment phase, a third has reached the execution phase,  and the other five plans remain primarily in the planning phase. The  working group identified 76 actions across the various supporting plans  and has monitored the implementation status of these actions. The  working group reported that, as of November 2007, six of these actions  were completed and 70 were ongoing. Appendix I: Objectives, Scope and Methodology

Our first objective was to assess the extent to which the National Strategy  for Maritime Security and its supporting implementation plans contain  the elements identified as desirable characteristics of an effective national  strategy. However, we believe it is proper to include the eight supporting plans in  our analysis of the National Strategy for Maritime Security because  Homeland Security Presidential Directive-13 (HSPD-13) directed that this  strategy and its supporting plans be produced together. Our second objective was to determine the reported status of the  implementation of these plans.
Why GAO Did This Study

The safety and economic security of the United States depends on the secure use of the world's seaports and waterways. Homeland Security Presidential Directive-13 (HSPD-13, also referred to as National Security Presidential Directive-41) directs the coordination of U.S. maritime security policy through the creation of a National Strategy for Maritime Security and supporting implementation plans. GAO was asked to evaluate this strategy and its eight supporting plans. This report discusses: (1) the extent to which the strategy and its supporting plans contain desirable characteristics of an effective national strategy, and (2) the reported status of the implementation of these plans. To conduct this work, GAO evaluated the National Strategy for Maritime Security and its supporting plans against the desirable characteristics of an effective national strategy that GAO identified in February 2004, reviewed HSPD-13 and supporting plans, and reviewed documents on the status of the plans' implementation.

What GAO Found

Of the six desirable characteristics of an effective national strategy that GAO identified in 2004, the National Strategy for Maritime Security and its eight supporting implementation plans address four and partially address the remaining two. Documents provided by the Maritime Security Working Group--an interagency body responsible for monitoring and assessing the implementation of the maritime strategy--indicate that the implementation status of the eight supporting plans varies. For example, as of November 2007, implementation of one plan had been completed, while another has reached the assessment phase (e.g., lessons learned and best practices), and a third has reached the execution phase (e.g., exercises and operations). The other five plans remain primarily in the planning phase. The working group is monitoring the implementation of 76 actions across the plans, and reported 6 of these are completed and 70 are ongoing.