Maritime Safety and Security Team - Vertical Insertion
U.S. Coast Guard photo by Chief Petty Officer Carl Shipley
Members of Maritime Safety and Security Team (MSST) Honolulu fast-rope onto a Republic of Singapore Navy (RSN) frigate from a Sea Hawk helicopter during a training mission.
MSSTs include a Vertical Insertion Team which specialises in fast-rope insertion techniques.
As part of their maritime law enforcement role and force protection role, MSSTs may need to use vertical insertion to intercept a ship (both docked and underway) as well as rapidly deploy to a ground location.
Maritime Safety and Security Teams are one of the U.S. Coast Guard's special forces within in its Deployable Operations Group.
MSSTs carry out maritime anti-terrorism, security and force protection missions.
