WASHINGTON — The U.S. Coast Guard has ordered large ferry operators to step up security on more than 300 passenger ships across the country following the terrorist attacks in London.
The heightened security could cause delays for passengers, who will see increased screening of their vehicles, more identification checks and more law enforcement officers patrolling the ferries.
Coast Guard vessels will escort ferries, and recreational boaters should be aware of security zones and restricted waters around marine transportation routes, said spokesman Lt. Commander Jeff Carter.
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Washington state operates the largest system in the United States, carrying more than 25 million passengers each year. Other large ferry operators are located in New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Virginia, North Carolina, Louisiana, Michigan, Texas and Alaska.
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