Sea Marshals

[John from Maryland]

I believe these are Port Security Detachments. They have a forum in the Coast Guard area of military.com.

[Evan]

I was channel surfing last night and came across a news story the the U.S. Coast Guard has started a "Sea Marshals" program. The sea marshals are coast guard reservists called up to duty. The job of the sea marshals is to meet and board all sea vessles before the vessles before they are allowed to set anchore or moore at a port.
The news story followed USCG sea marshals on board a cruise ship, in which the marshals have to collect all passengers and crew members pass ports or other identification papers, inspect state rooms, and cargo of cargo ships. After the inspection is completed the vessel is then allowed to sail into port.