Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations (Shiprider)

Integrated Cross-Border Maritime Law Enforcement Operations, also known as Shiprider, is a bi-national initiative between the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) that authorizes Canadian and United States (US) law enforcement officers work together to enforce the law on both sides of the shared border in shared waters.

Shiprider represents a new approach to joint Canada-U.S. law enforcement at the border and responds to the evolving nature and methods of transnational crime groups. Shiprider permits specially trained and designated Canadian and U.S. law enforcement officers to jointly crew marine vessels to enforce the law on both sides of the international boundary line. Working together, armed Canadian and U.S. law enforcement officers are able to transit back and forth across the border to interdict cross-border criminality in shared waterways.

Shiprider operations are conducted under the control of law enforcement officers of the “host” country, assisted by the law enforcement officers of the “visiting” country. In Canadian waters, for example, operations are subject to Canadian laws, policies and procedures and all operations are under the direction and control of Canadian law enforcement officers.

For further information on Shiprider, please visit the RCMP website

• Framework Agreement on Integrated Cross-Border Law Enforcement Operations between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America

Date modified:

2015-12-01