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American Morning

Homeland Security: Armed Guards Board Incoming Ships

Aired October 24, 2001 - 09:54   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: This week, we have been telling you about new security measures to protect places and systems that six weeks ago we seldom thought twice about, things like bridges and subways. But the nation's seaports are also at risk, and sea marshals are now boarding incoming ships.

CNN's Rusty Dornin is in San Francisco.

We've done it to you again. We make you get up in the middle of the night, but we're always delighted to have your reports on the air. Thank you. Good morning.

RUSTY DORNIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Paula, each port around the country handles the heightened security a little bit differently. In San Francisco, harbor pilots have always been ferried about five miles outside the harbor to steer the some 3 dozen vessels that come into San Francisco Bay every day safely to dock.

Now they do it with armed guards. Right after September 11, the Coast Guard here launched a program called the Sea Marshals, where Coast Guard escorts board the ships to protect them from being hijacked and possibly used as a weapon.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DORNIN (voice-over): Afloat 12 miles outside San Francisco's Golden Gate, a Korean cargo ship awaits some armed visitors.

Sea Marshal Sean Kopp (ph) and Terry Wonder (ph) climb aboard, along with a local harbor pilot. Soon, they begin issuing commands to the ship's crew.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I then I just need these two doors locked.

DORNIN: After September 11, the Coast Guard here began putting Sea Marshals before they enter San Francisco Bay, just in case the unthinkable happened on the high seas.

CAPT. LARRY HERETH, PORT OF SAN FRANCISCO: Terrorists could infiltrate a member of the crew. A terrorist could come on board a vessel in a stowaway kind of capacity, in a container, for example. A terrorist could come on board through a passenger network. A terrorist could come alongside and board a vessel while it's under way. DORNIN: Crews are watched for any signs of suspicious behavior. The Sea Marshals make sure the ship stays its course.

That course is far from things like the Golden Gate or any other bridge here. A ship may be slow, but as one of the largest moving objects in the world, if hijacked, it could be a devastating weapon of destruction.

If Sea Marshal Sean Kopp (ph) doesn't like what he sees on the bridge, has the power to do something about it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All hands on the bridge are going to go ahead and get on their knees except for the essential personnel. We are going to lock down the bridge and provide security for the pilot.

DORNIN: Ninety-six hours before a ship enters the bay, the crew's identities are run through an intelligence database. A ship's cargo and recent routes must be accounted for.

Local pilots have always guided ships to berth, only before they did it alone.

CAPT. PETER FULLER, SAN FRANCISCO BAR PILOT: There's a security in the wheelhouse that up to now we never thought we needed it, but apparently, it's a good thing.

DORNIN: Security measures like this are rare in the international shipping industry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Regarding the crew, it's hard for me to believe we're really in danger here. In case this happens, then, of course, it's good that these guys are here.

DORNIN: Making sure when the ships come in, they steer straight for the dock.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

California Gov. Gray Davis has also joined in with the federal program by providing department game boats and agents also to patrol in the bay and the other waterways, to help out with security -- Paula.

ZAHN: Thank you, Rusty, appreciate that report.

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