U.S. Coast Guard Tightens Security

To avert terrorist attacks in American ports, U.S. officials have established a 500-yard security zone around all Navy ships and barred other vessels from coming within 100 yards of them.

This was the latest step to tighten security at the country’s ports after Tuesday’s airliner hijackings. In San Diego and Los Angeles, for example, authorities have searched hundreds of vessels and screened their crews before allowing them to enter harbors.

Coast Guard officials Friday began enforcing a buffer around Navy ships to protect them from attacks like one that killed 17 sailors on the U.S. destroyer Cole last year. In that instance, suicide bombers in a small boat pulled up to the Cole while it was refueling in the Yemeni port of Aden.

Now Coast Guard vessels will escort Navy ships in port. Any boats that come within 500 yards must maintain a safe course and speed and follow the instructions of the official patrol. No boats will be permitted within 100 yards without permission.

“This restriction has been used rarely in the past, but never nationwide,” said Lt. Rick Wester, a Coast Guard spokesman.

The measures, he said, were not prompted by any specific threats and were authorized for the next nine months. If there are violations, he said, patrols will board the vessels or take other action “depending on the situation.” So far, no problems have arisen.

Other measures adopted at the country’s ports have been tailored locally. Some ports that previously had random inspections are now inspecting every ship.

Last week in San Diego, the Coast Guard, Border Patrol and state harbor police boarded and searched more than 300 vessels, two-thirds of them recreational.

Vessels can leave San Diego port but may not reenter until checked. So the Coast Guard warned that long delays can be expected, although the search usually takes only about half an hour. They will continue at least for a few days.

“We’re looking for any suspicious activities, people or items,” said Coast Guard Lt. Pete Melnick, adding that nothing like that has been found.

Tim Leathers, manager of Cabrillo Isle Marina, said: “People I talk to say they don’t mind. We’re all so patriotic. We’re flying flags, and we’re taking Monday off in remembrance of everyone.”

Leathers said he was especially pleased about the new Coast Guard security zone because his son, a crew member on a Navy destroyer, had returned to San Diego on Saturday from duty in the Middle East.

Searches in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have focused on the estimated 100 deep-draft vessels that entered the ports since Tuesday. Los Angeles Port Police Sgt. Mike Capodanno said that inspectors run a computerized security check on each crew member. “People don’t have a choice but to be cooperative,” he said.

In addition, the Coast Guard has implemented extra security for passenger vessel operators to check passengers’ picture identifications and to examine all baggage.

In the Port of New York and New Jersey, vessels need permission to enter certain areas and uniformed police are required on each passenger ferry.

Boston Harbor was reopened Sunday an hour after two bomb threats shut it down. The Queen Elizabeth II and her sister ship, the Caronia, waited just outside the harbor as the bomb sweeps were done. The ships had been turned away from New York, where piers were being used in the World Trade Center cleanup.

The inner Baltimore harbor reopened, but part of the Potomac River in Washington remained closed to all maritime traffic unless authorized by the Coast Guard.