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CNN Sunday Morning

Washington's Puget Sound Could Face Terrorist Threat

Aired June 09, 2002 - 07:03   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.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now back to the latest terror warning. The U.S. Coast Guard says Washington's Puget Sound could face the maritime threat if the form of swimmers or divers targeting vessels. As we hear from reporter Ray Lane of CNN affiliate KIRO, the new warning doesn't seem to put boaters on edge, but it does put them on alert.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHIL FURTH, KENT BOATER: I probably should be more alert to those kind of things, but I haven't been.

RAY LANE, KIRO CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The latest Coast Guard alert is a wake-up call for boaters like Phil Furth, a new warning for western Washington and the entire nation with its 95,000 miles of coast line.

LT. SCOTT CASAD, U.S. COAST GUARD: There's a credible threat to maritime interest by swimmers and divers.

LANE: Potential terrorists in the water posing a threat to cargo tankers, massive cruise ships with thousands of people on board, the state's ferries with hundreds of passengers and cars, all sorts of pleasure craft. An alert to nearly anything and everything on or near the water.

FURTH: We're living in a different age today, ever since 9-11, and I think we need to just be on a higher alert -- everybody.

GEORGIA RAY MARTIN, OLYMPIA BOATER: It gives you pause for thought, but I have never been fearful on the water.

LANE: The Coast Guard relying on recreational boaters and sailors to be their eyes and ears now more than ever.

CASAD: People that are on the water, that are on -- at the waterfront facilities, anything that's suspicious or abnormal to report that to local law enforcement or to the local Coast Guard office.

LANE: Just last week the FBI visited scuba diving shops, asking about people who might have inquired about underwater demolition training. It's unclear if the Coast Guard's latest alert is related to the one by the FBI. And state troopers are now making random vehicle searches at ferry terminals. A growing number of people on the open waters say they'll act quickly if they spot trouble.

FRAN KOTTWITZ, BLACK DIAMOND BOATER: Cell phone, yes absolutely. I mean if something looks too bizarre, we'd definitely call somebody or get on the radio and call the Coast Guard.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: That report came to us from Ray Lane of CNN affiliate KIRO in Seattle.

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