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CNN Live At Daybreak

America's New War: U.S. Coast Guard Around New York

Aired September 20, 2001 - 07:13   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.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: I guess you made it quite clear the president will attempt to get the American public to get prepared for a long, protracted battle. Of course, that's what Bob Franken confirmed, that the military, of course, is gearing up for what could be a long difficult war. Some units are already on the move. Others are awaiting orders.

Our own Martin Savidge is in the New York harbor aboard the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Campbell -- good morning, Martin.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you, Paula.

As you mentioned, we are on board the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Campbell. It is a 270 foot long, what is referred to as a medium endurance Coast Guard cutter, and it is sitting literally at the mouth of the New York harbor. Just to give you an idea of where we sit, you can see in the background directly there the Verrazano Bridge, and that connects Brooklyn with New York.

This vessel here is among an armada of about 36 other Coast Guard vessels that are primarily providing port security and safety for New York harbor.

Keep in mind immediately after the attack on the World Trade Center building, busy New York harbor was shut down for about two days. It has reopened, but the transit of vessels in and out of this harbor has been greatly curtailed.

Normally, we're told, there are about 120, maybe 140 vessels that would come and go through the New York harbor on any given day. There has only been about that number in over a week that has transited in here.

The way it works is that those commercial vessels planning to come into New York must notify 24 hours in advance of their arrival. They're met about 10 to 12 miles offshore, where they are inspected by armed members of the Coast Guard. They're carefully looking at the documentation of the crew and the manifest of the vessel itself. Obviously you could understand for security reasons in this area, they're going to carefully want to know what is on board the vessel before it is allowed to even come close to New York harbor. That's the job that they're about today.

Also, recreational vehicles, that means the person boats for you and I, they also, too, have been greatly curtailed. Eight o'clock in the morning till four o'clock in the afternoon is the only time that those vessels can move. For the most part, it's people wanting to get their boats out of here.

Security very tight on the waterfront here. Much of that security provided by the U.S. Coast Guard -- Paula.

ZAHN: So, martin, what is your understanding of how long this mission will last?

SAVIDGE: That's a good question, Paula. It's a question that we've been asking, how long do these heightened security measures go on? How long does New York harbor go through this sort of curtailment? Right now everyone is saying it's for the foreseeable future, no set out date at this point -- Paula.

ZAHN: And this group routinely patrols the grounds off George's Bank, right?

SAVIDGE: I'm sorry, repeat that one more time.

ZAHN: You know what? The wind is blowing up. I don't think you're going to hear it anyway. But Martin Savidge, thank you very, much for that report.

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