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CNN Saturday Morning News

A New Anti-Terrorism Boat to Patrol Around Liberty Island

Aired May 24, 2003 - 08:05   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.


MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Well, for those of you who may be heading to New York, you can expect a new sight around Liberty Island.
Our Jamie Colby joins us now with a look at the moose -- Jamie.

JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

It's interesting, and we took a spin on it yesterday. You know, New York City, despite the inclement weather, is expecting large crowds at Fleet Week and other landmarks in the city, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, to name two. And patrolling the waterways around those sites is the responsibility of the U.S. Park Police.

This week, as you said, they got a new toy. Meet the moose.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COLBY: So, Sarge, tell me why it is important that you have this vehicle available, especially this weekend?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, this is all part of our effort to provide security for the national icons, including the Statue of Liberty, to be specific in this case, and in other areas that we patrol, which get into shallow water and rough water, this boat, as we say, is equipped with water jets instead of propellers. It allows us to get into shallow areas and makes it very maneuverable for coming up along other vessels and just getting into areas that we just can't get to with conventional boats.

COLBY: So should we go for a spin?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure, let's go.

COLBY: It's not the greatest day for boating, but...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, this boat will handle it. The catamaran hull makes it real nice. It'll be a comfortable ride.

This boat is very quick. Like I say, it's probably one of our fastest boats. It definitely improves our response time.

COLBY: What's been the most challenging work that you've done out on the water?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Since 9/11, the importance has been, you know, lifted greatly on the boats, as we see, you know, in the busy harbor like this, then you kind of realize that it's kind of wipe open and we need to really put more of an emphasis on our marine response.

We're kind of the first line of defense, so, you know, we've really put a lot of effort and research and money into our marine unit to try to, you know, to meet these new challenges that we have.

COLBY: It is an awesome responsibility. What are the other landmarks that you keep an eye on from the water?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, up in the harbor here, basically Liberty Island and Ellis Island just right next to it. They're a big draw. They're a real, you know, a national icon that a lot of people here who live in New York have never even been to the Statue of Liberty and kind of just take it for granted that it's there. But I think it would be devastating if something happened to it.

COLBY: What do you think about when you pull in and you don't see the twin towers shining back at you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just a constant reminder that will keep you vigilant and hope something like that never happens again.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLBY: And if the moose performs as expected, they could be adding more to their fleet -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: Jamie Colby, thanks very much for a spin around with the moose.

We appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired May 24, 2003 - 08:05   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: Well, for those of you who may be heading to New York, you can expect a new sight around Liberty Island.
Our Jamie Colby joins us now with a look at the moose -- Jamie.

JAMIE COLBY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning.

It's interesting, and we took a spin on it yesterday. You know, New York City, despite the inclement weather, is expecting large crowds at Fleet Week and other landmarks in the city, the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, to name two. And patrolling the waterways around those sites is the responsibility of the U.S. Park Police.

This week, as you said, they got a new toy. Meet the moose.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

COLBY: So, Sarge, tell me why it is important that you have this vehicle available, especially this weekend?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, this is all part of our effort to provide security for the national icons, including the Statue of Liberty, to be specific in this case, and in other areas that we patrol, which get into shallow water and rough water, this boat, as we say, is equipped with water jets instead of propellers. It allows us to get into shallow areas and makes it very maneuverable for coming up along other vessels and just getting into areas that we just can't get to with conventional boats.

COLBY: So should we go for a spin?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure, let's go.

COLBY: It's not the greatest day for boating, but...

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, this boat will handle it. The catamaran hull makes it real nice. It'll be a comfortable ride.

This boat is very quick. Like I say, it's probably one of our fastest boats. It definitely improves our response time.

COLBY: What's been the most challenging work that you've done out on the water?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Since 9/11, the importance has been, you know, lifted greatly on the boats, as we see, you know, in the busy harbor like this, then you kind of realize that it's kind of wipe open and we need to really put more of an emphasis on our marine response.

We're kind of the first line of defense, so, you know, we've really put a lot of effort and research and money into our marine unit to try to, you know, to meet these new challenges that we have.

COLBY: It is an awesome responsibility. What are the other landmarks that you keep an eye on from the water?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, up in the harbor here, basically Liberty Island and Ellis Island just right next to it. They're a big draw. They're a real, you know, a national icon that a lot of people here who live in New York have never even been to the Statue of Liberty and kind of just take it for granted that it's there. But I think it would be devastating if something happened to it.

COLBY: What do you think about when you pull in and you don't see the twin towers shining back at you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's just a constant reminder that will keep you vigilant and hope something like that never happens again.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

COLBY: And if the moose performs as expected, they could be adding more to their fleet -- Marty.

SAVIDGE: Jamie Colby, thanks very much for a spin around with the moose.

We appreciate it.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com