The May 2008 Harbor Patrol Advisory Council meeting was substituted
by a Council invitational visit to the new USCG JHOC, Joint Harbor
Operations Center at Pier 36 on Elliott Bay. This is a state of the art
maritime command center for the Pacific Northwest including the
Washington Sate Patrol, Customs and Border Protection, Homeland
Security agencies, and local law enforcement. The JHOC oversees and
monitors marine operations, maritime safety and security of the Puget
Sound area, as well as facilitating planning, monitoring, and response
to natural disasters, accidents, and deliberate attacks that would affect ships,
craft, or waterfront infrastructure within northwesten Washington.
The Puget Sound JHOC covers 3,500 Square miles using the latest sensor, detection, and communication technology to deal with threats while still enhancing traditional Coast Guard Sector roles such as the Vessel Traffic System and SAR Search and Rescue.