USCG Activities Europe United States Coast Guard Activities Europe ( ACTEUR ) is a Coast Guard Marine Safety unit located in Rotterdam , The Netherlands . Unit History . At the request of the U . S . Department of State , the U . S . Coast Guard ( USCG ) established offices throughout Europe near the end of World War II . Their mission was initially to handle the influx of U . S . merchant ships and merchant seaman . However , after the war , the workload declined and offices remained only in London , Bremerhaven and Rotterdam . In the 1960s the name Activities Europe ( ACTEUR ) was first given to the office in London and they were tasked as the centralized support for CG LORAN stations throughout Europe . In 1975 the other remaining USCG offices were consolidated and a Marine Inspection Office ( MIO ) was established in Rotterdam . This was the first MIO established outside the U . S . and its mission was similar to that of today ' s unit . However , in June 1982 MIO Rotterdam was closed for budgetary reasons and the overseas inspection responsibilities in Europe , Africa , and the Middle East were transferred to MIO New York . From June 1982 until July 1995 , MIO New York conducted overseas inspections using a combination of inspectors from the U . S . and personnel from ACTEUR London . With the turn - over of the LORAN stations to the " host " countries in the early 1990s , ACTEUR London was closed . A new command , Activities / Marine Inspection Office Europe , was commissioned on July 11 , 1995 in Rotterdam . The unit has continued to grow and evolve during the Coast Guard ' s transition to the Department of Homeland Security and today our maritime security role continues to expand . Between 2004 and 2007 , additional people were assigned to ACTEUR as International Port Security Liaison Officers ( IPSLO ) . IPLSOs work with 83 different countries to align maritime security efforts and share best practices . In December 2012 the office moved again as a tenent of U . S . Army Garrison Schinnen , in Schinnen Netherlands . Missions . Flag Administration , Safety , Security , and Pollution Prevention For US Flag . U . S . Vessel Inspections – Safety , security , and environmental protection inspections on U . S . flag vessels account for the majority of our flag administration workload . The somewhat transient U . S . fleet that operates within the AOR includes offshore oil industry vessels and Mobile Offshore Drilling Units working in West Africa and on the North Sea and Arabian Sea , and U . S . deep draft cargo ships ( both commercial and U . S . government owned ) , which navigate throughout the Area of Responsibility ( AOR ) . ACTEUR ' s marine inspectors focus on the structural integrity , vital systems , propulsion , seaworthiness , hazardous conditions , lifesaving , firefighting , safety of navigation , etc . , on U . S flag commercial vessels . Our marine inspectors travel to over 30 countries throughout the AOR to ensure compliance with U . S . laws and regulations and international conventions . In addition to the fleet in operation , ACTEUR also oversees any major U . S . flag new - building projects under construction within the AOR , prototype & production testing of primary lifesaving appliances for formal USCG Approval , and of third party organizations that have been authorized to conduct relevant work on behalf of the USCG . U . S . Vessel Investigations - ACTEUR also investigates marine casualties ( including incidents accidental or purposeful ) involving U . S . vessels operating within the AOR . Primarily to identify safeguards and prevent re - occurrence , our investigators attempt to determine the causes , evaluate the actions of USCG licensed & documented mariners and , as appropriate , initiate legal actions . Port State Control Activities . Although ACTEUR does not have Captain of the Port jurisdiction , we play a key role in the USCG Port State control program for European built cruise ships , foreign flag tank vessels and compressed gas carriers . The overwhelming majority of cruise ships that trade in the U . S . are being built in European shipyards and ACTEUR marine inspectors , working in conjunction with U . S . counterparts , conduct expanded Port State Control exams during the construction of these vessels to ensure compliance with international safety regulations , especially those concerning structural fire protection and lifesaving arrangements . International Port Security Program . In 2004 ACTEUR became home to a team of International Port Security Liaison Officers ( IPSLOs ) who work with all maritime trading countries in the AOR . The IPSLOs are a vital part of the Coast Guard ' s International Port Security ( IPS ) Program . Their mission is to learn about maritime port security efforts and implementation of the ISPS Code in all countries that conduct maritime trade with the U . S . This is accomplished by continual engagement with fellow maritime nations . At times engagements are less formal and conducted by the IPSLO alone and other times more formal and include a delegation of IPS Program managers from Washington DC or Portsmouth , Virginia . In all cases , engagements provide the opportunity to conduct on - site information exchanges , share best practices , and observe each country ' s efforts on maritime port security . IPSLOs also facilitate reciprocal visits to the U . S . allowing other nations to view first hand security practices in U . S . ports . International Outreach . ACTEUR carries out a wide variety of outreach and engagement activities . As the USCG ' s primary representative in the region we work with U . S . embassies , coast guards , international organizations , and the international maritime community to share information and improve understanding of USCG roles , missions , and objectives . We actively participate in various international maritime industry & regulatory forums . Working with our international maritime colleagues , we attempt to improve maritime security and safety and work together to eliminate substandard shipping throughout the world . As a result , we regularly participate in International Maritime Organization ( IMO ) activities , the Paris and Black Sea Memorandum of Understanding on Port State Control groups , the European Commission ' s MARSEC , and the International Organisation for Standardisation . Statistics . • There are over 6 , 500 miles between two of ACTEUR ' s regular inspection locations ; Bergen , Norway , and Cape Town , South Africa . • In 2007 , ACTEUR personnel traveled to over 70 different countries throughout the AOR carrying out our various mission responsibilities . • ACTEUR has the largest geographic Area of Responsibility of any field unit in the USCG , spanning the Arctic Circle to Cape Horn .