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CNN Live Today

Coast Guard Training Newest Security Team

Aired July 25, 2002 - 11:17   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The Coast Guard is training its newest security team today, and we understand they're conducting drills off of Wilmington, North Carolina this morning.

And that is where we sent our Brian Cabell, who is out there watching those drills.

Hello -- Brian.

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Leon.

We had quite a sight here on the Cape Fear River this morning; we'll show you that video in just a moment.

This was the final day of training for a group known as a maritime safety and security team, or MSST for short. It was a group -- a concept, really -- that was created after September 11.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CABELL (voice-over): For residents and motorists along the Cape Fear River in Wilmington, North Carolina, it certainly looked and sounded more ominous than it one. It was an attack, but a simulated attack, on a naval supply ship in harbor. Protecting the ship in this mock firefight, both by river and by land, was a team of Coast Guards being specially trained to protect the United States' 361 ports and 95,000 miles of coastline.

COMMANDER RODRIGUEZ, U.S. COAST GUARD: It's been determined the ports are somewhat vulnerable here in the United States. So we need to step up our security a little bit.

CABELL: September 11 changed the thinking, an awareness that the Coast Guard had to aggressively protect the ports.

Two of these 100-person units have been trained so far. Two more will be added later this year. Eventually, there may be a dozen, all of them mobile and able to react to a terrorist threat anywhere in the United States within 12 hours. Expansion of the teams is also anticipated.

RODRIGUEZ: We're requesting divers for the unit, in order to sweep the bottom of ships and the bottom of the piers. That way we can have a good assessment whether or not the piers are safe. CABELL: The Coast Guard has been protecting America's coast for more than 200 years. But these new teams represent a 21st century approach to the continuing threat of terrorist attacks on land and on water.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

The first of these teams, or MSSTs, was commissioned earlier this summer. They are now in Seattle. This team had finished training here today, will go to Norfolk starting tomorrow -- and already, Leon, they will be busy: They have two assignments coming up on the East Coast in the month of September.

Back to you.

HARRIS: All right, good deal. Thanks, Brian. Brian Cabell, (UNINTELLIGIBLE) North Carolina.

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