- The Ship Rider pilot program, otherwise known as the Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations (ICMLEO) officers of both Canadian and American law enforcement agencies collaborate to patrol the maritime areas between Canada and the US.
- In particular, this initiative permits specially trained law enforcement officers (from Canada & the US) to jointly crew each other's vessels and allows them to patrol common and undisputed waterways along the shared border.
- This program ultimately serves to remove the maritime boundary that previously served as a barrier to law enforcement and allows the two country's law enforcement and security operations to conduct their operations seamlessly and continually.
- The main agency participants involved in this program are the US Coast Guard (USCG) and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP).
Integrated Cross-border Law Enforcement Operations Act, Statutes of Canada 2012, c. 19, s. 368. https://laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts/I-14.7/page-1.html?wbdisable=true
For a background on the Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations (ICMLEO) / Shiprider program: https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/brdr-strtgs/brdr-lw-nfrcmnt/ntgrtd-crss-brdr-mrtm-en.aspx
For a copy of the official ICMLEO: https://www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/assets/shiprider_agreement.pdf
For a 2018 evaluation of the Shiprider Program implemented by the Beyond the Border Action Plan: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/en/evaluation-of-the-border-action-plan-shiprider-program#:~:text=Shiprider%20is%20a%20bi%2Dnational,an%20officer%20of%20the%20host
For a publication on the Shiprider Program by the Woodrow Wilson Center: https://www.wilsoncenter.org/publication/us-and-canadian-law-enforcement-jointly-patrol-our-waterways
For details of the program & training operations by RCMP: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ibet-eipf/shiprider-photos-eng.htm
For a background, description, and details regarding past operations provided by the RCMP: https://www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca/ibet-eipf/shiprider-eng.htm